Italian Sausage Pasta Fagioli

This is one of those soups that you can make on a weeknight in just under an hour. Served with a crusty piece of Italian bread, it makes a complete meal—it’s so delicious, hearty, and filling. Loaded with vegetables and beans, it’s rustic and simple. The crumbles of Parmesan cheese and the drizzle of olive oil complete this one-pot masterpiece.

One pot. One soup. Do it.

SERVES 10 TO 12 • TOTAL TIME: 35 MINUTES

INGREDIENTS:

1 teaspoon olive oil

2 large links Italian sausage, casings removed, meat crumbled

1 medium yellow onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, chopped

½ teaspoon Italian Seasoning

½ teaspoon sugar

1 to 1½ teaspoons kosher salt

¼ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper

6 cups Chicken Broth

2½ cups cooked cannellini beans, or 2 (15-ounce) cans, drained and rinsed

2 (15-ounce) cans diced tomatoes

1 cup uncooked ditalini pasta

2 cups chopped fresh spinach leaves

¼ cup crumbled Parmesan cheese, for serving

Extra-virgin olive oil, for serving

DIRECTIONS:

• In a large Dutch oven, heat 1 teaspoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add the crumbled Italian sausage and cook until browned, about 10 minutes. Transfer the sausage to a clean plate and set aside. Add the onion and garlic to the rendered fat in the pot and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 to 5 minutes, or until soft. Add the Italian seasoning, sugar, salt, and pepper and cook for 1 minute.
• Return the sausage to the pot and add the broth, beans, tomatoes, and pasta. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is cooked al dente, about 15 minutes.
• Add the spinach, cover, and cook until the spinach has wilted, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Ladle the soup into bowls. Sprinkle with some Parmesan cheese and drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil before serving.

SIMPLY SCRATCH TIP

I use either mild or hot Italian sausage for this soup. And when I’m feeling fancy, I’ll go to the market around the corner and buy the house-made “rustic” sausage from the butcher. I’m not the biggest fan of sweet Italian sausage, but I bet it would work fine as well.