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Quick Pasta e Fagioli Soup

Pasta e Fagioli Soup, like the one they serve at Olive Garden, is delicious and satisfying. Now you can make it in 15 minutes at home for dinner any night.

One of my favorite restaurant soups has always been the Pasta e Fagioli at Olive Garden. It’s beans and pasta cooked in a tomato and herb broth. Really hearty and tasty. And those endless bowls with breadsticks and salad? Bring them on! Bowlful after bowlful. I’m there.

Pasta E Fagioli

Today’s soup is ready in under 15 minutes so that you can have delicious homemade Pasta e Fagioli Soup whenever the mood strikes you. This is an Italian soup with pasta and beans. There’s lots of varieties, but you may be familiar with it from Olive Garden. I’ve done something a little bit different with this recipe though. I’ve used frozen lima beans. I like their bright green color and fresh taste.

Using Beans In Soup

As you may have guessed, the SouperTip for the soup, the thing that makes it so delicious so quickly, is beans. Beans are such a convenient and versatile ingredient. You can get some kinds frozen, like I did for this recipe, or you can use canned beans. Just drain and rinse them and add them to the soup. They don’t need to be cooked, only warmed through.

The other thing you can do is use dried beans. You soak them overnight and then cook them according to the package directions. From there, drain them and freeze them. You can add them from the freezer to your soup as conveniently as the canned beans.

Here’s another soup that makes use of this wonderful ingredient: Bean and Bacon Soup in 15 Minutes.

Podcast Episode On Making Quick Pasta E Fagioli Soup

Listen to learn how to make this recipe, along with some great tips from Christine:

Listen to more Recipe of the Day episodes here.

Print

Pasta e Fagioli Soup Recipe

  • Author: Christine Pittman
  • Prep Time: 0 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 5 servings 1x
  • Category: Entrée
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Italian

DESCRIPTION

This version of Pasta e Fagioli Soup is brightened up with some lima beans. Frozen lima beans are a great ingredient to have on hand to throw into soups and stews.
To make this recipe in under 15 minutes first read through it. As you read, gather together all of the pots, pans and tools that you’ll need. Also grab all of the ingredients but don’t prep them yet. All of the prep is given in the instructions and counts towards the 15 minute recipe time.
Yield: 10 cups


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 2 cups frozen lima beans
  • 4 cups low-sodium chicken stock
  • Salt
  • 2 cups mini shells (or other pasta with 6 minute cooking time)
  • 4 strips bacon
  • 1 and 1/2 cup carrot matchsticks (sometimes labelled as shredded carrots)
  • 2 ribs of celery
  • 1 small onion
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1/2 tsp. dry thyme leaves
  • 1/2 tsp. dry rosemary leaves
  • Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 (28 oz.) can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 (15.5 oz.) can cannellini beans

Instructions

  1. Put the frozen lima beans in a large microwave-safe bowl with the chicken stock. Put in the microwave on high for 7 minutes.
  2. Fill a medium saucepan with hot tap water. Cover and put over high heat. When it comes to the boil, add 2 teaspoons of salt and then the mini shells. Cook until they reach the desired doneness and then drain.
  3. Meanwhile, put a large pot over medium heat. Roughly chop the bacon and add it to the pot. Roughly chop the carrot matchsticks and add them to the pot. Stir. Finely chop the celery. Add it and stir. Chop the onion. Add it and stir.
  4. Mince the garlic clove and add it to the pot along with the thyme, rosemary, red pepper flakes and ½ teaspoon of salt. Stir.
  5. Add the crushed tomatoes. Drain the cannellini beans and add them. Stir. Increase heat to high. Cover.
  6. Add the hot stock and lima beans to the large pot. Stir. Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer. Cook until the lima beans are tender.
  7. Add the drained pasta to the pot and serve.