It is hard to find anyone who doesn’t love pasta fagioli, a traditional Italian soup made with pasta, beans and beef. Nancy Fox of Skinny Kitchen has taken her version further than ever with a low-calorie, low-fat option that surrenders nothing in terms of taste. This version is a healthy twist on pasta fagioli as a snack, starter or even a filling main course.
By The Numbers
Prep & Cook Time: One Hour & 15 Minutes
Servings: 20
Nutrition Notes (Per 1 Cup Serving): Calories 156: Carbohydrates25g: Protein 12g: Fat 2g: Saturated Fat 1g: Sodium 438 mg: Fiber 6g: Cholesterol 12 mg: Sugar 6g.
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef or ground turkey, see shopping tips
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 3 cups onions, chopped
- 4 carrots, chopped
- 4 celery stalks, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 (28oz) can tomatoes, diced
- 1 (16 oz) can red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 (16 oz) can white kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 (16 oz) can great northern beans, rinsed and drained
- 3 (10oz) cans of reduced-sodium beef broth
- 1 (24 oz) jar marinara or pasta sauce. I used Prego’s Heart Smart pasta sauce
- ½ cup water
- 1 zucchini, chopped
- 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
- Fresh ground pepper, to taste
- 6 ounces whole-wheat penne pasta
- Grated Parmesan cheese, for topping (optional)
Instructions
- Brown beef in a large nonstick soup pot. Drain in a colander in the sink.
- In the same pot, heat olive oil.
- Add onions, carrots, celery, and garlic. Cook for 2 minutes. Stir often.
- Add drained beef back to the pot.
- Stir in canned tomatoes, beans, beef broth, pasta sauce, zucchini, water, Italian seasonings, and pepper.
- Bring soup up to a boil. Turn heat to a simmer, cover, and let cook for 50 minutes.
- Add pasta to soup.
- Cover and cook for about 10 minutes longer until pasta is ready.
- If you like a thinner soup, add another ½ cup water or so.
- Ladle soup into a small bowl or cup. Top with grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.
About Nancy Fox
Nancy Fox has enjoyed a long and well-respected career in the food industry. Fresh out of college she founded Mrs. Beasley’s, the now-famous gift-basket company featuring gift baskets full of decadent baked goods. She later created Nancy’s Healthy Kitchen, a successful restaurant concept. Her passion for cooking and baking also led her to create SkinnyKitchen.com, an online recipe site. SkinnyKitchen is an accessible guide to healthy yet decadent-tasting recipes that cover a wide range of dietary options from gluten-free to paleo, Dairy-Free and more. To learn more about Nancy Fox, her approach to food and her amazing range of recipes, please visit SkinnyKitchen.com.
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