Hearty Bean and Pasta Soup

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Thick, hearty and warming, this soup is sure to become a favorite in your house.
Today's Menu
Italian Bean and Pasta Soup
Sausage and Pepper Sandwiches
Mixed Greens Salad
Chianti

There is something special about homemade soup.  The way it warms up the house with it's heavenly fragrance,  the sound of it gently simmering on the stovetop, the beautiful colors of all the ingredients as you put them into the pot...the quiet joy your soul experiences when a steaming bowl of it is placed before you at the table.  Homemade soup is love in a bowl!

This soup is rather easy to make, so don't hesitate to make a batch soon!

Italian Bean and Pasta Soup   Serves 8 - 10

1.5 lbs Ground Beef Chuck
1 qt beef stock
1 medium yellow onion, diced
3 medium sweet peppers, diced (I like to use yellow, red and green)
1 c Peas (frozen work best)
1/2 c Carrots, diced
2 T Italian Seasoning
1 T Pizza Seasoning
1 16oz can Chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 28oz can Diced Tomatoes
1 16oz can Pizza Sauce (I like Pastorelli's)
1 4oz can Tomato Paste
16 oz Water
1/2 c grated hard Cheese (any kind - I used parmesan & romano)
1/4 c dry Pasta (any kind can be used, I like stelline, the little star shaped pasta)
1 T Kosher Salt

  1. In a large pot, brown ground beef and drain fat.
  2. Add onions and peppers, cook until soft.
  3. Add Italian seasoning and pizza seasoning, stir to coat meat mixture.
  4. Add chickpeas, diced tomatoes, pizza sauce and stock to pot.
  5. Bring to simmer.
  6. Meanwhile, empty the tomato paste into a bowl and slowly add 1/2 c of the hot soup to the bowl, stirring until it forms a thick sauce.  Add salt and pepper to the paste mixture.  Add to pot.
  7. Add peas, carrots and pasta.
  8. Add water.
  9. Turn up heat and bring soup to almost boiling.  DO NOT BOIL.*
  10. Reduce heat to simmer and let cook for 1 hour.
  11. Add cheese and stir.
  12. Serve.
*  Don't boil your soups, it ruins them.  Just remember "A soup that's boiled is a soup that's spoiled" !

Please let me know how you like this soup, I welcome your comments!



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