PT's Pasta Fagioli with Sausage (Click Here to Leave/Read Comments)

Here is my take on a classic Italian dish: Pasta Fagioli. Growing up, my Grandfather had the best Pasta Fagioli in Jersey, but I never had the chance to get the recipe from him so for the past couple years I have been trying to come up with my own version. So here it is I hope you like it, let me know what you think! PT

INGREDIENTS
1-48oz can of College Inn Chicken Broth
2- Cups of Ditalini Pasta
2- 19oz. cans of Cannellini Beans
4-Sausage patties (Premo Sausage Preferred)
7-Whole Basil leaves
1-Teaspoon of dry Oregano
1-Teaspoon of Parsley
1-Teaspoon of crushed red pepper (if you like spice)
2-Whole Garlic cloves
1-12oz can Chunky crushed Tomatoes
1-Teaspoon of crushed Rosemary
2-Teaspoons crushed Basil leaves
2-Tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Parmesan Cheese (Grated)
Salt & Pepper (add at end to your liking)
1-small can of Tomato paste

METHOD
Start with a LARGE soup pot, add the can of Chicken Broth, and cook on low heat. Add 7 whole Basil leaves to soup along with one whole peeled Garlic clove. Let this sit while you cook the 4 sausage patties. After the sausage patties are cooked, cut them into small squares and set aside.

In a skillet, add 3 Tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and add in 1 whole Crushed Garlic clove, 1 Teaspoon of crushed Rosemary, 1 teaspoon or crushed Oregano & 1Teaspoon of crushed Basil leaves. Let this simmer and mix in to create your flavor base. Once this is mixed well and the Garlic starts to brown, add in 1 12oz. can of chunky crushed Tomatoes and 1 small can of Tomato paste and let cook on low to med heat for 10 minutes.

At this point you want to start cooking your Ditalini Pasta. Once your water starts to boil and you add the Pasta, add 2-cans of Cannellini Beans to your skillet and mix well! (Be sure to include the Juice in the can too to make the soup thicker)

Once your Pasta is cooked add it to the skillet and mix in the Sausage. Mix this all together well and then add it to your soup Pot and mix in the broth.
The Key to this dish being good is to add Grated Cheese to it. It should almost be a part of the recipe but add it to your bowl so it’s fresh and doesn’t cook in.

This recipe should feed up to 5 People. Or one Fat hungry man! Enjoy and Let me know what you think!!