Pasta E Fagioli Alla Veneziana

Ingrid Nicolich-Obregon's Note:

I got this recipe from a great cookbook, Venezia - Food & Dreams, that Liz gave me for Christmas 2009.

• Total Time: 25 hrs
• Prep Time: 24 hrs
• Cook Time: 1 hrs

Ingredients:

Servings: 5

• 1 1/2 cups roman beans (dried)
• 1 carrot, peeled
• 1 celery, stalk
• 4 garlic cloves, peeled but left whole
• 2 onions, peeled, 1 left whole and the other finely chopped
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 1/4 cups pancetta, chopped
• 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped
• 1/4 cup dry pasta, fidelini or 1/4 cup spaghetti, chopped up

Directions:

1. Put beans in pot and cover with cold water. Soak for 8 to 10 hours or overnight.
2. Drain and put beans back into pot with carrot, celery, garlic, whole onion and 8 cups of water. Bring to a boil. Skim surface if necessary.
3. Reduce heat and simmer for approximately 45 minutes. Check beans for doneness. They should be soft and creamy, not too mushy.
4. Season beans with salt towards the end of the cooking time.
5. While the beans are cooking, saute the onion in olive oil in a large skillet until onion is softened. Add the pancetta and continue sauteing until onion and pancetta are golden but not too crispy.
6. Add the red pepper flakes and season with salt and pepper. Stir in the rosemary and saute for one minute. Remove pan from heat and cover.
7. Take the beans off the heat once they are cooked. Remove carrot. Throw out celery and onion. Lift out an abundant slotted spoonful of the whole beans and put into the pancetta pan. Take 2 tablespoons of the pancetta mixture and add to bean pot. Cut up the carrot and add to pancetta mixture.
8. Using an immersion blender, puree the bean mixture until completely smooth. Add the pancetta mixture, stir briefly and bring to a boil.
9. Stir in pasta pieces and cook until pasta is tender. If soup is too thick, add a little hot water.
10. Serve with grated cheese and a swig of olive oil.

Reviews

[Marsha Mazz]

Uh, this is a fabulous soup and the fragrance is delightful. But, the reviewer who called it "meatless" must have left out the best part - the pancetta - which is sort of an Italian bacon. Without the pancetta, I think it would just be a bean soup like any other. The nutmeg and other spices in the pancetta gave it a delicate taste. I wouldn't recommend substituting bacon,which is smoked and has a very different taste, for the pancetta.

[macera44]

Thanks for sharing, this is a great soup. I am always looking for a good hearty meatless soup, and this is now on my favorite list. I did use 4 c of chicken stock and 4 c water. Thanks for sharing.