Pasta e Fagioli Soup Recipe

Introduction

Pasta e Fagioli Soup is a comforting Italian classic that combines hearty beans, flavorful ground turkey, and tender pasta in a rich tomato and vegetable broth. This satisfying soup is perfect for a cozy meal any time of year.

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground turkey
• 1 cup diced onion
• 1 cup julienne carrots
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 (14.5 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
• 1 (15.5 ounce) can red kidney beans, with liquid
• 1 (15 ounce) can great northern beans, with liquid
• 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 46 ounces Spicy V-8 juice
• 1 tablespoon vinegar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1 teaspoon basil
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon thyme
• 1/2 pound Ditalini pasta (half of a 1-pound package)

Instructions

1. Step 1: Brown the ground turkey in a large saucepan. Drain any excess fat.
2. Step 2: Transfer the browned turkey to a large stockpot.
3. Step 3: In the same saucepan, sauté the diced onion, julienned carrots, chopped celery (including some celery leaves for extra flavor if desired), and minced garlic until tender.
4. Step 4: Add the sautéed vegetables to the stockpot with the turkey.
5. Step 5: Stir in the diced tomatoes, red kidney beans with liquid, great northern beans with liquid, tomato sauce, Spicy V-8 juice, vinegar, salt, oregano, basil, black pepper, and thyme. Do not add the pasta yet.
6. Step 6: Bring the soup to a simmer and let it cook for at least one hour to develop flavors.
7. Step 7: While the soup simmers, cook the Ditalini pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta well.
8. Step 8: Stir the cooked pasta into the soup.
9. Step 9: Simmer the soup for an additional 5 minutes to let the flavors combine, then serve hot.

Tips & Variations

• To add more depth, try using fresh herbs instead of dried oregano, basil, and thyme.
• For a vegetarian version, omit the turkey and add more beans or some chopped mushrooms for texture.
• If you prefer a thicker soup, reduce the amount of V-8 juice or let it simmer uncovered to evaporate some liquid.
• Substitute Ditalini with other small pasta shapes like elbow macaroni or small shells if preferred.

Storage

Store leftover soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat gently on the stove over medium heat, stirring occasionally. The pasta may absorb liquid over time; add a splash of water or broth when reheating if the soup seems too thick. This soup can also be frozen without pasta for up to 3 months; cook fresh pasta when serving.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make this soup ahead of time?

Yes, this soup tastes even better the next day after the flavors have blended. Just store it in the refrigerator and add fresh pasta when reheating.

What can I use if I don’t have Spicy V-8 juice?

You can substitute with a mix of vegetable juice or tomato juice combined with a dash of hot sauce or cayenne pepper to retain the spicy, savory flavor.

Pasta e Fagioli Soup Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 72 reviews

A hearty and flavorful Pasta e Fagioli Soup featuring ground turkey, beans, vegetables, and ditalini pasta simmered in a savory tomato and spicy V-8 juice broth. This comforting Italian-inspired soup combines protein-rich beans and lean turkey with aromatic herbs for a satisfying meal perfect for any season.

• Author: Ruby
• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
• Yield: 8 servings 1x
• Category: Soup
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: Italian
• Diet: Low Fat

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Meat

• 1 pound ground turkey

Vegetables & Aromatics

• 1 cup diced onion
• 1 cup julienne carrots
• 1 cup chopped celery (plus some celery leaves for extra flavor)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced

Beans & Tomato Products

• 2 14.5 ounce cans diced tomatoes
• 1 15.5 ounce can red kidney beans (with liquid)
• 1 15 ounce can great northern beans (with liquid)
• 1 15 ounce can tomato sauce

Liquids & Seasonings

• 46 ounces spicy V-8 juice
• 1 tablespoon vinegar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1 teaspoon basil
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon thyme

Pasta

• 1/2 pound ditalini pasta (half of a 1 pound package)

Instructions

1. Brown Turkey: In a large saucepan, cook the ground turkey over medium heat until browned and fully cooked. Drain any excess fat to keep the soup healthy.
2. Transfer Turkey: Move the browned turkey into a large stockpot where the soup will be assembled and simmered.
3. Sauté Vegetables: In the same or another large saucepan, sauté onion, julienned carrots, chopped celery (including some celery leaves for extra flavor), and minced garlic until they are tender and fragrant, about 5-7 minutes.
4. Add Vegetables to Stockpot: Stir the sautéed vegetables into the stockpot with the browned turkey.
5. Add Remaining Ingredients: Pour in the diced tomatoes, red kidney beans with liquid, great northern beans with liquid, tomato sauce, spicy V-8 juice, and vinegar. Add oregano, basil, salt, black pepper, and thyme. Stir well to combine, but do not add the pasta yet.
6. Simmer Soup: Bring the soup to a gentle boil, then reduce heat and let it simmer uncovered for at least one hour. This allows the flavors to meld beautifully.
7. Cook Pasta: Meanwhile, cook the ditalini pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain well to prevent excess water in the soup.
8. Add Pasta to Soup: Stir the cooked pasta into the soup pot.
9. Final Simmer and Serve: Simmer the combined soup and pasta mixture for an additional 5 minutes to marry the flavors. Serve hot for a comforting meal.

Notes

• For extra flavor, use celery leaves when sautéing the vegetables.
• Simmering the soup for longer than one hour will deepen the flavors even more.
• Ensure to drain the pasta well to avoid making the soup too watery.
• This soup can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
• Substitute ground turkey with ground chicken or lean ground beef if preferred.
• Adjust salt and pepper according to taste, especially if using low-sodium beans or V-8 juice.

Keywords: Pasta e Fagioli, turkey soup, Italian soup, bean soup, ditalini pasta, ground turkey recipe, healthy soup, vegetable soup, comfort food