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Authentic Italian Cannellini Bean and Pastina Soup (Minestra di Pasta e Fagioli Bianchi)

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Make this comforting, rustic Italian soup featuring creamy cannellini beans and tiny pastina pasta. It is a simple, hearty meal perfect for any night.

Ingredients

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  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 carrots, peeled and diced
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried sage
  • 1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
  • 4 cups vegetable broth (or chicken broth for non-vegetarian)
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 cup pastina (tiny pasta shapes)
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, carrots, and celery. Cook until softened, about 5 to 7 minutes.
  2. Add the minced garlic, dried rosemary, and dried sage to the pot. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  3. Add the rinsed cannellini beans, vegetable broth, and water to the pot. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
  4. Once simmering, add the pastina. Cook according to the pasta package directions, usually 7 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
  5. When the pastina is cooked through, remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese until melted and incorporated.
  6. Taste the soup and season generously with salt and black pepper. Remember, the broth flavor develops as it cooks.
  7. Ladle the soup into bowls. Garnish each serving with fresh chopped parsley and extra Parmesan cheese.

Notes

  • For a creamier texture, mash about one-third of the cooked beans against the side of the pot before adding the broth, or blend a portion of the soup with an immersion blender.
  • If you prefer a more traditional Tuscan bean soup flavor, use a sprig of fresh rosemary instead of dried, removing it before serving.
  • This soup thickens as it sits. If you have leftovers, you may need to add a splash of water or broth when reheating.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://tastethisplate.com/italian-cannellini-bean-and-pastina-soup/