Pasta e Fagioli with Escarole

A hearty Italian soup combining tender cannellini beans, pasta, and escarole in a flavorful broth enriched with Parmesan, aromatics, and a touch of heat from chiles. This rustic dish perfectly balances vegetables, beans, and pasta for a complete meal.

6 servings
3 hr 5 min

Ingredients

  • cups cannellini beans
  • 1 piece Parmesan rind
  • 2 medium carrots
  • 2 stalks celery
  • 1 head garlic
  • 6 sprigs parsley
  • 1 sprig rosemary
  • 2 leaves bay leaves
  • 2 pieces dried chiles de árbol
  • to taste salt and pepper
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large onion
  • 1 can whole peeled tomatoes
  • ¾ cup dry white wine
  • 3 ounces dried pasta
  • ½ head escarole
  • escarole leaves

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1.

    Bring beans, Parmesan rind, carrots, celery, head of garlic, parsley, rosemary, bay leaves, chiles, and 2 quarts water to a boil in a medium pot. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer, adding more water as needed, until beans are tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Season with salt and pepper, remove from heat, and let sit 30 minutes. Discard vegetables, rind, and herbs.

    120 min

  2. 2.

    Meanwhile, heat 3 Tbsp. oil in a large pot over medium. Cook onion and chopped garlic, stirring occasionally, until softened, 8-10 minutes. Add tomatoes, crushing with your hands, and cook, stirring often, until liquid is almost completely reduced, 12-15 minutes. Add wine, bring to a boil, and cook until almost completely evaporated, about 5 minutes.

    30 min

  3. 3.

    Add beans and their liquid; cook until flavors meld, 12-15 minutes. Add pasta; cook, stirring and adding more water as needed, until al dente, 15-20 minutes. Add escarole and cook until wilted, about 1 minute; season with salt and pepper. Serve soup drizzled with oil and topped with Parmesan and more chile.

    35 min