Description
A comforting and hearty Pasta e Fagioli recipe perfect for two, featuring crispy bacon, tender orzo pasta, and nutritious beans simmered in a flavorful tomato-based chicken stock broth.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat & Vegetables
- 2 strips bacon, chopped
- ½ small onion, chopped
- ½ cup finely chopped carrot
- 1 clove garlic, minced
Seasonings & Pastes
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 Tbsp tomato paste
- ½ tsp salt, plus more to taste
Liquids & Pasta
- 2 and ½ cups low-sodium chicken stock
- 1 cup frozen beans (such as lima or soy beans)
- ⅓ cup dry orzo (or other small pasta)
Instructions
- Cook the Bacon: Set a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the chopped bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until it is crisp. Once cooked, carefully remove all but 2 teaspoons of the bacon fat from the pot and discard the excess fat.
- Sauté the Vegetables and Spices: Add the chopped onion and finely chopped carrot to the bacon in the saucepan. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened, about 3-4 minutes. Add the minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper flakes if using. Stir to combine. Then add the tomato paste and cook while stirring for 30 seconds to develop its flavor.
- Simmer the Soup: Pour in the low-sodium chicken stock, frozen beans, and ½ teaspoon salt. Increase the heat to high to bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, stir in the dry orzo. When the liquid returns to a boil, reduce the heat to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is tender, about 7-9 minutes. Taste and add additional salt if needed before serving.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, omit the bacon and use vegetable broth instead of chicken stock.
- You can substitute orzo with any small pasta like ditalini or small shells.
- Adjust crushed red pepper flakes according to your preferred spice level.
- Using low-sodium chicken stock allows better control over the saltiness of the soup.
- Frozen beans such as lima or soy beans add protein and texture; you can substitute with cannellini or kidney beans if preferred.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: Pasta e Fagioli, Italian soup, bacon soup, orzo pasta soup, easy dinner for two, bean soup, tomato bean pasta soup
