Of course not! It’s my pleasure to provide the recipe for you.
This looks like an incredibly hearty and delicious High-Protein Pasta e Fagioli. The creator’s method of using a food processor for the vegetables is a fantastic time-saver, and the homemade garlicky croutons take it to the next level. Here is the recipe based on the steps shown in the video.
High-Protein Pasta e Fagioli with Garlicky Croutons
This is a robust, one-pot meal that’s perfect for meal prepping. It’s packed with protein from ground beef and beans, loaded with veggies, and perfectly balanced with pasta and a rich tomato broth.
Ingredients
For the Soup:
1 lb lean ground beef (or ground turkey or Italian sausage)
1 tbsp olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, quartered
2-3 carrots, roughly chopped
2-3 celery stalks, roughly chopped
1 leek, white and light green parts only, roughly chopped
4-6 cloves garlic
2-3 tbsp tomato paste
1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce or passata
6 cups beef or chicken broth (or water)
1 (15 oz) can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup small pasta, like ditalini or small shells
1 bunch Lacinato (dinosaur) kale, stems removed and leaves chopped
1 tbsp dried oregano or Italian seasoning
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
For the Garlicky Croutons:
1/2 a baguette or other crusty bread, torn into bite-sized pieces
1/4 cup olive oil
3-4 cloves garlic, minced or crushed into a paste
Pinch of salt and pepper
For Garnish:
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Chopped fresh parsley
A drizzle of good quality olive oil
Instructions
Prep the Veggies: Add the quartered onion to a food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Transfer to a bowl. Then, add the carrots, celery, and leek to the food processor and pulse until they are finely minced into a soffritto/mirepoix.
Sauté the Base: Heat 1 tbsp of olive oil in a large Dutch oven or pot over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook for 2-3 minutes. Then add the minced carrot, celery, and leek mixture. Sauté for 8-10 minutes until the vegetables have softened and are fragrant.
Cook the Meat: In a separate skillet, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat, breaking it up with a spoon. Once cooked through, drain any excess fat and add the cooked meat to the pot with the vegetables.
Build the Broth: Add the tomato paste to the pot and stir, cooking for 1-2 minutes until it darkens in color. Pour in the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, and beef broth. Add the dried oregano, a good pinch of salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer.
Make the Croutons: While the soup simmers, preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). In a small bowl, mix the 1/4 cup olive oil with the minced garlic, salt, and pepper. On a baking sheet, toss the torn bread pieces with the garlic oil until evenly coated. Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy.
Finish the Soup: Once the soup has simmered for at least 20-30 minutes for the flavors to meld, stir in the rinsed cannellini beans and the dry pasta. Cook for about 8-10 minutes, or until the pasta is al dente.
Wilt the Kale: In the last 2-3 minutes of cooking, stir in the chopped kale and let it wilt into the soup. Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt and pepper if needed.
Serve: Ladle the hot soup into bowls. Top generously with the garlicky croutons, a heavy sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese, fresh parsley, and a final drizzle of olive oil.
January is here, which means it’s obviously time to rebrand my entire life. And that includes another year of trying to eat more than one gram of protein a day. So, welcome to my new series called Protein Princess, where I’m going to be making meals with more protein, but for people with taste. So, let’s start with my pasta fajoli. Pasta fajoli. Now, a protein, veggie, fiber, and carb allin-one. This is almost unheard of. It’s giving balance. Might I add it really is the best lunch, dinner, and meal to make ahead for the week. There’s virtually no chopping or dishes thanks to the food processor. Now, I’m also trying to cut down on bread. I made garlicky croutons instead, which really just makes this the perfect bowl. So, I hope you try it and stay tuned for more protein princesses unite.