Italian Style Kidney Beans Recipes

PASTA AND BEANS | PASTA E FAGIOLI RECIPE

Steps:

• Cook the beans. Dice carrot and celery, then chop the onion and set aside
• In a large soup pot, sauté over medium heat in 6 tablespoons of the extra virgin olive oil, the garlic cloves, the sprig of rosemary and the sage leaves
• When the garlic is golden (2/3 minutes), remove it from the soup pot; remove the sage and rosemary as well. Add the chopped onion, carrot and celery you set aside. Cook for about 5 minutes on medium heat, stirring often. Add the cooked beans, mix and let them flavor
• Add the tomato passata and stir. Then Pour in the hot broth and add the bay leaves. Mix and cook over medium heat covered with a lid for about 20 minutes
• Transfer 3 or 4 ladles of the soup (avoiding the bay leaves) to a blender. Blend until completely smooth. Pour the blended mixture in a bowl and set aside
• Add pasta to the simmering soup. Continue cooking until the pasta is cooked al dente
• Add the blended mixture, season with salt if necessary and mix. Serve pasta and beans with a sprinkling of freshly ground black pepper and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil

SIMPLE ITALIAN MINESTRONE SOUP

Steps:

• In a large Dutch oven, heat the extra virgin olive oil over medium heat until shimmering but not smoking. Add onions, carrots and celery. Raise heat to medium-high, if you need to, and cook, tossing regularly, until the veggies soften a bit (about 5 minutes or so). Add the garlic and cook another minute, tossing regularly.
• Add the zucchini or yellow squash and green beans. Season with paprika, rosemary, and a generous pinch of kosher salt and pepper. Toss to combine.
• Now add the crushed tomatoes, broth, fresh thyme, bay leaf and Parmesan rind (if using.) Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a gentle simmer and partially cover the pot. Let simmer for about 20 minutes or so.
• Uncover the pot and add the kidney beans. Cook for another 5 to 10 minutes.
• Finally, Stir in the parsley and fresh basil. And, if serving immediately, stir in the cooked pasta and simmer ever so briefly till the pasta is warmed through; do not overcook. (See Cook's Tip #2)
• Remove the cheese rind and bay leaf. Taste and adjust seasoning to your liking. Serve the minestrone hot in dinner bowls with a sprinkle of grated Parmesan (optional.)

PASTA E FAGIOLI / PASTA AND BEANS

Steps:

• In a large pot add the olive oil, minced garlic, chopped onion, celery and carrots, cook until transparent.
• Then add the vegetable broth, spices, puree and beans bring to a boil, cover with a slight opening and continue to simmer over low/medium heat for approximately 20-30 minutes or until the beans are tender and the soup has thickened. Stirring occasionally.
• Once they are cooked and tender, then you can blend 1/3-1/2 the ingredients or leave as is. Add the water (taste for salt) and bring the soup to a boil then add the dry pasta. Cook until the pasta is al dente. If you find it too thick then add a little more water or broth, too thin then add less water before adding the pasta. Serve immediately sprinkled with some freshly grated parmesan cheese. Enjoy!