Pasta Fagioli
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*4 tablespoons Extra Light Olive Oil
*1 tablespoon Butter
*1 medium Red Onion, chopped
*2 Carrots, peeled, diced small
*3 Celery Stalks, diced very small
*1 medium Zucchini cut in half lengthwise, cut small
*2 Cloves Garlic, pressed or minced
*1/8 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
*1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning or 1 teaspoon dried Basil, 1 teaspoon Oregano, 1/2 teaspoon thyme
*1/4 teaspoon freshly ground Black Pepper, or to taste
*1 Sweet Potato, diced small
*1 32 ounces Chicken Stock, a little more if needed
*1 small can tomato paste
*1 small can tomato sauce or 8 ounces V8 Juice
*1 14.5 ounces diced Italian Tomatoes
*1 15 ounce can Cannellini Beans or Great Northern Beans or Red Pinto Beans, drained and rinsed
*1 cup Ditalini Pasta, or any small pasta, shells, elbow or a mix of them
*Sea Salt, to taste
*1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan (Parmigiano-Regiano) or Fontina
*Garnish with a sprinkle of chopped Parsley
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*Note: If you happen to have the end of the Parmigiano-Reggiano that you would usually discard, place it into the Pasta Fagioli while cooking and remove from soup before serving.
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Options: Spinach or chopped Kale add at the end of cooking
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In a skillet, heat olive oil butter. Add the following each of them added 1-2 minutes apart starting with: Onions, Carrots, Celery, Zucchini and garlic.
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Mix in the Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes and fresh ground black pepper into the sautéed mixture heated to bring out flavors in spices, about 1 minute.
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Place the above sautéed mixture into a stock pot.
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In the skillet you sautéed the above mixture, heat and add about 1 cup of the chicken stalk and diced sweet potatoes on medium-low heat. Let the sweet potatoes cook about 3 minutes and then add the tomato paste and ding more chicken stock if needed cook just until bubbly and add to the stock pot.
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In the stalk pot add the remains chicken stalk, diced tomatoes and tomato sauce and to a boil. Then add the pasta.
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Simmer the Pasta Fagioli for 15-20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes. Then add rinsed beans.
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When serving soup top individual bowls with cheese of your choice. Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Lindy
