Pasta Fagioli Soup With Smoked Sausage

Kittencalskitchen's Note:

If possible make this soup a day ahead and refrigerate, the flavor will intensify --- kielbasa or any dried smoked sausage will work good for this soup and any kind of beans may be used successfully, spinach is a great addition also --- serve with more Parmesan cheese on the side a large crusty loaf of bread --- you will *love* this soup! :)

• Total Time: 1 hrs 15 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hrs

Ingredients:

Servings: 6

• 2 cups sliced dried smoked sausage (can use more or less)
• 3 -4 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large onion (quartered or very coarsley chopped)
• 3 tablespoons minced fresh garlic
• 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes (or to taste, adjust to suit heat level)
• 1 ½ teaspoons dried basil
• 1 ½ teaspoons dried oregano
• 6 cups chicken broth (can use half broth and water)
• 1 -2 tablespoon chicken bouillon powder (or use 2 small packages OXO chicken boullion powder)
• 1 (14 ounce) can diced tomatoes with juice
• 1 (14 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 (15 ounce) can cannellini beans , rinsed and drained
• 1 (15 ounce) can navy beans , rinsed and drained
• ¾ cup grated parmesan cheese (can use more)
• 2 teaspoons fresh ground black pepper (or to taste)
• 2 cups uncooked small shell pasta

Directions:

1. In a large pot lightly brown the sausage slices on both sides then remove to a bowl.
2. In the same pot heat the oil over medium heat; add in onion and saute for about 5-6 minutes or until softened.
3. Add in the garlic, pepper flakes, basil and oregano; cook stirring for 2 minutes.
4. Add the sausage back to the pot along with the broth, bouillon powder, diced tomatoes with juice, tomato sauce, both cans of beans, Parmesan cheese and 1-2 teaspoons ground black pepper; stir with a wooden spoon and bring to a simmer over medium heat.
5. Reduce heat to low and simmer covered for about 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
6. Season with seasoned salt or white salt.
7. Meanwhile in another pot cook the small shell pasta until al dente; drain then add to the soup before serving.
8. Serve with more Parmesan cheese on the side.

Reviews

[Carmen in PA]

Loved this soup Kittencal!!!! 10 stars from DH and I! I did make a few changes for more tomato taste. I used 2 cups chicken broth, 2 tablespoons chicken base, 1- 28 oz can diced tomatoes, 2- 28 oz cans tomato sauce, and 1 tsp worcestershire. Also, I didn't have navy beans, so I used 2- 15 oz cans cannellini beans. The rest of the recipe I used as listed. The smoked sausage sent it over the top! I love long simmered soups, so I let it ( very low ) simmer for about 6 hours then I added the cooked shell pasta right before serving. There are only the two of us, so I had leftovers which I put into 2 QT size freezer bags. Served this AMAIZING soup with a salad and crusty bread. Kittencal, I love your recipes! Thank you for posting this one!!!!

[Diane S]

This soup is 5 stars, my husband likes it. The changes I made was to cut back on the crushed red pepper and black pepper, I used turkey keilbasa (dried) available at a local farmers market. I will definitely make it again.

[Dreamer in Ontario]

This is a nice, flavourful soup, though I found the smoked flavour to be a bit too strong. I used radiator pasta instead of shell pasta and red kidney beans in place of the navy beans. Next time I won't add the smoked sausage until the soup is almost ready to serve.