Pasta & Bean Soup
Find a Conversation
| Fri, 10-08-2004 - 11:56am |

Pasta & Bean Soup
Fall 2004
Fast and Easy
Prep time: 15 MINUTES
Start to finish: 35 MINUTES
4 14-ounce cans reduced-sodium chicken broth
6 cloves garlic, crushed and peeled
4 4-inch sprigs fresh rosemary or 1 tablespoon dried
1/8-1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 15 1/2-ounce or 19-ounce can cannellini beans (white kidney beans), rinsed
1 14 1/2-ounce can diced tomatoes
1 cup medium pasta shells or orecchiette (Use whole wheat or omit for phase 1)
2 cups individually quick-frozen spinach (6 ounces) (see Note) (I used fresh baby spinach)
6 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil (optional)
6 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese (1 ounce)
1. Combine broth, garlic, rosemary and crushed red pepper in a 4- to 6-quart Dutch oven or soup pot; bring to a simmer. Partially cover and simmer over medium-low heat for 20 minutes to intensify flavor. Meanwhile, mash 1 cup beans in a small bowl.
2. Scoop garlic cloves and rosemary from the broth with a slotted spoon (or pass through a strainer and return to the pot). Add mashed and whole beans to the broth, along with tomatoes; return to a simmer. Stir in pasta, cover and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is just tender, 10 to 12 minutes.
3. Stir in spinach, cover and cook just until the spinach has thawed, 2 to 3 minutes. Ladle into bowls and garnish each serving with a drizzle of oil, if desired, and a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese.
Makes 6 main-dish servings, 1 1/3 cups each.
Per serving: 205 calories; 4 g fat (2 g sat, 0 g mono); 10 mg cholesterol; 29 g carbohydrate; 13 g protein; 5 g fiber; 523 mg sodium.
Nutrition bonus: 45% daily value vitamin A, 20% dv fiber, 140 mg calcium (15% dv).
Variation: Substitute chickpeas (garbanzo beans) for the cannellini beans; use a food processor to puree them
Ingredient note: Individually quick-frozen (IQF) spinach is sold in convenient plastic bags. If you have a 10-ounce box of spinach on hand, use just over half of it and cook according to package directions before adding to the soup in Step 3.
I added some shredded chicken breast to make it a one pot meal.

