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Florentine White Bean Soup with Pasta

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Makes 12 first-course or 6 main-course Servings

Ingredients

1

16-ounce package dried Great Northern beans (about 2 1/2 cups)

16

cups (or more) water

5

garlic cloves, unpeeled, plus 3 garlic cloves, peeled, chopped

1

celery stalk, cut in half

5

tablespoons olive oil

2

medium onions, chopped (about 3 cups)

1

14 1/2-ounce can diced tomatoes in juice

1

tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary

1

tablespoon chopped fresh sage

1

/2 teaspoon celery salt

3

/4 cup tubettini or elbow macaroni (about 6 ounces)

Need to make a substitution?

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Place beans in large pot. Add enough cold water to cover beans by 3 inches. Let stand overnight.

    Step 2

    Drain beans well. Return to pot. Add 16 cups water, 5 unpeeled garlic cloves, and celery stalk. Bring mixture to boil; reduce heat to low and simmer 1 hour 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

    Step 3

    Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and 3 chopped garlic cloves and sauté until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Add tomatoes with juices, rosemary, sage, and celery salt to mixture, stirring to combine.

    Step 4

    Add vegetable mixture to bean mixture in pot. Simmer soup until beans are tender, about 45 minutes.

    Step 5

    Cook pasta in another large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain well. Add cooked pasta and remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil to soup, stirring to combine. Thin soup with more water, if desired. Season soup to taste with salt and pepper and serve.