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<\/p>\nChilly winter weather calls for a hot and steamy soup like this Pasta Fagioli Soup. It\u2019s a thick, hearty Italian soup made with pancetta, vegetables, pasta and beans in a tomato broth. Served with savoury Parmesan crisps and crusty bread it makes a hearty and satisfying meal.<\/p>\n
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Bring a little taste of Italy into your home with this authentic made from scratch pasta and bean soup. We call it Zuppa di Pasta e Fagioli in Italian. Zuppa means soup, pasta means pasta and fagioli means beans. I grew up eating this soup which was a winter staple in our house since it was an economical and delicious filling meal that fed a large family.<\/p>\n
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To serve with the soup I added homemade Parmesan crisps to my mother\u2019s traditional recipe. The crisps are easy to make in the oven with just one ingredient \u2013 Parmesan cheese. They\u2019re thin, lacy, crispy and perfectly salty and compliment the soup beautifully. I could snack on them all day!<\/p>\n
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The soup is made with pancetta, vegetables, seasonings, ditalini pasta and cannellini beans which all simmer in a tomato broth. It is in fact a soup, but is thick as a stew. Served with sprinkles of extra Parmesan cheese, homemade Parmesan crisps, and optional crusty bread to sop up the luscious tomato broth, it\u2019s a complete meal in one. Wholesome and warm with savoury flavours, this thick soup will keep you feeling full and satisfied.<\/p>\n
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It\u2019s hard to believe the combination of ingredients on this list can make such a hearty, warm and cozy soup that\u2019s loaded with flavour.<\/p>\n
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The flavour base starts with browning the pancetta and builds up with the addition of vegetables, tomatoes and beans. The soup delivers a lot of flavour even before it begins to bubble.<\/p>\n
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\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n While the soup simmers make the Parmesan crisps. For best results, bake each batch separately. Be sure and let the crisps set on the baking sheet before you remove them!<\/p>\n Pancetta is a type of cured Italian bacon made of pork belly that\u2019s curled into a tight roll, wrapped in a casing and salt-cured. It\u2019s commonly used in Italian cuisine to add depth to soups and pastas. Find it at the grocery deli and ask for two \u00bd\u201d slices or three \u00bc\u201d slices, which can be diced for this recipe. It\u2019s ideal for this soup, but if you can\u2019t find pancetta, regular bacon works just as well for this soup.<\/p>\n Ditalini is an Italian pasta shape that resembles short tubes. Translated from Italian it means \u201csmall thimbles\u201d. It\u2019s typically used in rustic Italian soups since the tubes soak up the broth to create a thick soup. You can find ditalini pasta easily in any grocery store.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Cannellini beans are also known as white kidney beans, white beans or in Italian fagioli. They are a dietary staple used in many parts of the world and provide a complete protein. The beans are creamy white in colour with a fluffy texture, a mild flavour, are low in fat and retain their shape when cooked.<\/p>\n The soup can be made a day ahead or early in the day and reheated when needed. As the soup sits longer the pasta plumps further and the soup thickens. Ideally the Parmesan crisps should be made a short while before serving for the optimum crispness. I definitely recommend you enjoy them while they\u2019re as fresh as possible, but if necessary, they can be made a day ahead or early in the day. Once they\u2019re cooled, store them in an airtight container at room temperature.<\/p>\n The soup freezes well for up to 3 months. Thaw the frozen soup in the refrigerator overnight and reheat it slowly in a pot over medium-low heat. You can freeze the Parmesan crisps in an airtight container and thaw them on a rack at room temperature. They\u2019ll still be very flavourful but may not be quite as crispy after they\u2019ve been defrosted.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you\u2019re looking for a meal that\u2019s hearty, healthy and super comforting, this Italian Pasta Fagiolli Soup is for you! It\u2019s a perfect way to warm up on a cold day.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.kitchenfairy.ca\/staging\/1035\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Pasta-Fagioli-Soup-with-Parmesan-Crisps-7-BEST-How-to-Make-Parmesan-Crisps-1024x768.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nHow to make the Parmesan crisps<\/h2>\n
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Pancetta<\/h2>\n
Ditalini pasta<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nCannellini beans<\/h2>\n
Can I make the soup and Parmesan crisps ahead?<\/h2>\n
Can I freeze the soup and Parmesan crisps?<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nOther thick and hearty soups<\/h2>\n
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