Fazool or Fagioli?!? I guess it kinda depends on where in Italy you’re from and which dialect you speak. Or… whether you’re an Italian immigrant in the USofA.
In standard Italian the word bean is fagioli and pronounced roughly fah-JOH-lee. In Southern Italian dialect, it’s closer to fah-sool or fah-sooli. Dean Martin called it Pasta Fazool in “That’s Amore”. The rest, as they say, is history. Who’s gonna argue with Dean?!?
There are as many recipes for this soup as there are Italians – or Italian wannabes – on the planet. Some with meat, some without. All water, various broths. Dried beans canned beans, borlotti beans, cannellini beans… The beauty of this is you can make it any way you like. The secret is to just make it – and that’s what Victor did.
He used tomato sauce we canned, homemade tomato paste, canned cannellini beans, gnocchini, pancetta… the trinity – onion, celery, and carrots – water and chicken broth. Perfection.
Pasta Fazool
- Extra virgin olive oil
- 4 oz pancetta
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 celery stalks, finely chopped
- 2 carrots, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 32 oz tomato sauce
- 2 oz tomato paste
- 2-4 cups chicken broth
- 3 cups water
- 2 cans can cannellini beans
- S&P, to taste
- Crushed red pepper
- Grated Parmesan cheese, to serve
Chop pancetta and lightly sauté in oil. Add carrot, onion, and celery and cook to slightly wilt. Add garlic.
Add tomato paste and mix it well with the vegetables. Add the tomato sauce, water, 2 cups broth, bay leaf oregano, and a pinch of salt & pepper. Bring to boil.
Add pasta and cook until almost done. Add undrained beans and continue cooking until pasta is cooked and beans are heated through. You may or may not want to add the remaining chicken broth.
Add crushed red pepper to taste.
Check for seasoning and adjust, as needed.
Serve with lots of freshly grated parmigiano reggiano and crusty bread.
This is a classic for a reason… Thick, rich, flavorful – and easy to throw together. You can make it as simple and quick or long and complex as you like.
It’s gonna be good no matter what.
