| Pasta e fagioli | |
| Alternate Name: | Pasta e fasule, pasta fazool |
| Country: | Italy |
| Region: | |
| Course: | Primo (Italian course) |
| Type: | Pasta soup |
| Main Ingredient: | Small pasta (elbow macaroni, ditalini), cannellini beans or borlotti beans, olive oil, garlic, onions, spices, stewed tomato or tomato paste |
Pasta e fagioli (pronounced as /it/;) is an Italian pasta soup of which there are several regional variants.[1]
It is often called pasta fasul or pasta fazool in the New York Italian dialect, derived from its Neapolitan name, pasta e fasule.[2]
Recipes for pasta e fagioli vary, the only true requirement being that beans and pasta are included.[3] While the dish varies from region to region, it is most commonly made using cannellini beans, navy beans, or borlotti beans and a small variety of pasta, such as elbow macaroni or ditalini.[4] The base typically includes olive oil, garlic, minced onion, celery, carrots, and often stewed tomatoes or tomato paste. Some variations omit tomatoes and instead use a broth base. Preparation may be vegetarian, or contain meat (often bacon, ground beef, or pancetta) or a meat-based stock.
The recipe varies greatly based on the region or town in which it is prepared, depending on available ingredients. The consistency of the dish can vary, with some being soupy, while others are much thicker. For instance, in Bari the dish is thicker in consistency and uses mixed pasta shapes. It also uses pancetta in the base of the sauce. Other varieties call for the beans to be passed through a food mill, giving it a stew-like consistency. Pasta e ceci, a version replacing the beans with chickpeas, is common in Rome.[5]
"Pastafazoola", a 1927 novelty song by Van and Schenck, capitalises on the Neapolitan pronunciation in the rhyme "Don't be a fool, eat pasta fazool."
The song "That's Amore", by Warren and Brooks (popularised by Dean Martin), includes the rhyme "When the stars make you drool, just like pasta fazool, that's amore." Pasta e fagioli was also among Dean Martin's and Frank Sinatra's favorite foods.[6]