Comfort Food: Pasta e Fagioli

Everyone has their comfort foods that they eat for certain moods. I know I love a nice bowl of minestrone soup when I have the cold or a nice greasy burger and fries when I am hung-over. I have found my comfort food here in Italy that basically is... comforting. Pasta e Fagioli which is a pasta of your preference, normally with a mixed pasta or tagliatelle, and cannellini beans. Yummm.... seriously like the comfort of your mom's home on a plate. This is a staple in the Italian kitchen and really easy to make! So, if you ever feel like you want something warm and satisfying, and you don't want something out of a can or something that will take too long to make... try this. =)

Pasta e Fagioli

Servings: 2

Ingredients:

1 clove of garlic

1 can of vegetable broth

200 grams of Mixed Pasta or Tagliatelle or Ditalini

1 can of Cannellini Beans

Oregano

Chili Pepper Flakes

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1. In one pot, boil water for the pasta with a dash of salt.

2. In another small pot, add diced garlic, red pepper flakes and olive oil and cook until the aroma of the garlic comes out.

3. Add the cannellini beans, vegetable broth, and oregano to the pan and cook on low heat.

4. Cook until the beans are cooked through and the pot is simmering.

5. Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook.

6. Once the pasta is cooked, drain it and return it to the pot.

7. Then add the pot of beans to the pasta and let it simmer for 1 minute to infuse the flavors.

8. Remove from heat, serve, and enjoy!

It's a simple plate but a very traditional one as well that just has the right flavors for me. You can also drizzle raw olive oil over it at the end for more taste. Another option instead of pasta is to serve it with some rustic bread. Che buono!