ditalini pasta

The chef Tom Valenti channels his late grandmother in his cooking, utilizing her ''stove top approach to life'' by braising and stewing and slow cooking the kinds of food that snowstorms were made for. Her pasta and bean soup, a treat for carb-lovers with its addition of mashed potatoes to thicken the broth, was one of many old-country comfort foods that she fed Mr. Valenti during his childhood.

Pasta and Bean Soup

olive oil

prosciutto di Parma,

carrot

onion

celery,

garlic,

salt

black pepper

tomato paste

store-bought reduced-sodium vegetable broth or homemade vegetable stock

potatoes,

cannellini beans, rinsed and drained

ditalini pasta,

rosemary

red pepper

Parmesan cheese, more for sprinkling

Extra virgin olive oil

Heat olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add prosciutto and cook, stirring, until prosciutto begins to render its fat, about 4 minutes.

Add carrot, onion, celery and garlic. Season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring, until softened but not browned, about 5 minutes. Add tomato paste, stir to coat other ingredients, and cook for 2 minutes. Add broth, one quart water and potatoes. Raise heat to high and bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer until potatoes are very soft, about 25 minutes. Transfer potatoes to a bowl and mash them.

Return potatoes to pot and stir them into soup. If not serving immediately, let cool, cover and refrigerate for a few days or freeze for up to 1 month. Reheat before proceeding.

Add beans and pasta. Cook over medium heat until beans are warmed through, about 5 minutes. Stir in rosemary, crushed red pepper and cheese. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper, if necessary.

To serve, ladle some soup into each of 8 bowls. Top with more cheese and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.

With pasta, fresh romaine, chicken, tomatoes, bacon, cheese, onions and a zesty Italian dressing, this may be the best salad you've ever had.

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Pasta and Bean Soup

Zesty Chopped Salad

Top 2 ditalini pasta recipes from across the web

The most viewed ditalini pasta recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 20,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engineic_arrow_forward_48px

Top Tags

Pasta and Bean Soup

Zesty Chopped Salad

The most viewed ditalini pasta recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 20,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine