Description
Pasta e Ceci, meaning pasta and chickpeas, is a traditional Italian comfort food. This hearty one-pot meal offers rustic simplicity and is a classic peasant soup.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 2 (15 ounce) cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup ditalini pasta
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- Grated Parmesan cheese (for serving)
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery. Cook until softened, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add garlic, rosemary, thyme, and red pepper flakes (if using). Cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
- Stir in crushed tomatoes and vegetable broth. Bring to a simmer.
- Add drained and rinsed chickpeas and ditalini pasta. Stir well.
- Season with salt and black pepper.
- Cook, stirring occasionally, until pasta is al dente and stew has thickened, about 15-20 minutes.
- Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley and grated Parmesan cheese.
Notes
- This dish is sometimes referred to as ‘trashed’ pasta and chickpea stew due to its humble, peasant origins.
- You can use other small pasta shapes if ditalini is not available.
- For a richer flavor, you can add a Parmesan rind to the stew while it simmers and remove it before serving.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: One-Pot
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 12g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 5mg
Keywords: pasta e ceci, pasta and chickpeas, trashed pasta, Italian stew, chickpea soup, ditalini pasta, peasant soup, comfort food