Tag: italian

Tuscan pasta and bean soup (pasta e fagioli)

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We had the most delicious pasta e fagioli at our favorite local Italian restaurant. But unlike other pasta e fagioli recipes, the restaurant's version was heavy on the beans (tender, nearly disintegrated, velvety), light brown, and had virtually no other vegetables. We suspected the soup's foundation was homemade bean broth (as opposed to stock plus… Continue reading Tuscan pasta and bean soup (pasta e fagioli)

Italian pasta and bean soup (pasta e fagioli )

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We had an incredible homemade pasta e fagioli over the holidays, and we felt inspired to try a recipe: https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/pasta-e-fagioli Our modifications: first, instead of a ham hock, we browned 1 oz center cut bacon cut into match sticks. We also used 2 parmesan rinds. Second, we did a quick soak of 8 oz dried… Continue reading Italian pasta and bean soup (pasta e fagioli )

Orzo with chick pea in tomato sauce (pasta e ceci)

We tried this recipe: https://www.thekitchn.com/easy-pasta-and-beans-257210 This recipe calls for chicken broth, but if you use vegetable broth, it easily could be vegetarian. Our modifications: first, we halved the recipe. Second, based on our pantry we used 1/2 tsp dried basil instead of fresh, and we added it just before simmering the orzo in sauce. We…… Continue reading Orzo with chick pea in tomato sauce (pasta e ceci)

Tuscan bean soup (ribollita)

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We craved a plant-forward soup with beans and leafy greens, so we made this: https://www.feastingathome.com/ribollita-recipe/ We followed the recipe pretty closely, and this was very tasty. We omitted the bacon / pancetta, but we used chicken broth (4 cups unsalted, 2 cups Better Than Bouillon). For the white wine, we estimated a "splash" to be… Continue reading Tuscan bean soup (ribollita)

Orzo with cherry tomatoes and slivered almonds

We loosely followed this recipe: https://www.seriouseats.com/orzo-with-cherry-tomatoes-capers-lemon-recipe Our modifications: first, we started cooking the orzo in unsalted chicken broth (which we lightly salted). Second, for aromatics we sauteed 3 garlic cloves (sliced), 4 anchovies, and 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper in 2 Tbsp olive oil. (We did this instead of the capers, thyme, and single garlic…… Continue reading Orzo with cherry tomatoes and slivered almonds

Mafaldine pasta with roasted eggplant

I love the curly edges of lasagna sheets, so mafaldine pasta piqued my curiosity. We decided to try this recipe: https://www.acouplecooks.com/mafaldine-pasta-with-eggplant/ Our modifications: first, we halved the recipe, using 1/2 lb of mafaldine pasta. We used a low-walled Dutch oven to cook the pasta. Second, as a shortcut we used 15.5 oz Rao’s marinara sauce…… Continue reading Mafaldine pasta with roasted eggplant

White beans with rosemary, tomato, and olive oil

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This is a delicious and easy dish with Mediterranean flavors: https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1023775-rosemary-white-beans-with-frizzled-onions-and-tomato?smid=ck-recipe-iOS-share Our modifications: first, we increased the onion to one medium and one small, which we sliced along the grain. We cooked the onions in 2 Tbsp olive oil until caramelized, and we set aside 1/3 of them for garnish. Second, we used no-salt canned… Continue reading White beans with rosemary, tomato, and olive oil

Sicilian-style pasta with zucchini chunks

We unexpectedly had an abundance of zucchini, including 4 smaller ones. We tried this recipe: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/08/23/lifestyle/recipe-this-unusual-method-cooking-zucchini-with-anchovies-becomes-sauce-pasta/ At the end of cooking, we added lemon juice (about 1/3 lemon) for brightness. This dish was decent, but we prefer a pasta with cauliflower that has a similar flavor base (garlic, anchovy, olive oil). (Jan. 2023)