Cranberry Bean Pasta Fagioli

Cranberry Bean Pasta Fagioli

Pasta e fagioli, meaning "pasta and beans", a traditional Italian dish is meatless. Like many other Italian specialties, including pizza and polenta, the dish started as Bauerngerichtdish, which consists of inexpensive components. Today may very well be, even in restaurants that do not specialize in Italian cuisine.

Ingredients:

5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling

5 cloves garlic, smashed

1 small onion, roughly chopped

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or more to taste

1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary

1 2 -ounce piece pancetta (optional)

5 canned whole San Marzano tomatoes, crushed by hand

Kosher salt

3 pounds fresh cranberry beans in pods, shelled (or 1 cup dried cranberry beans, soaked overnight)

2 bay leaves

1 piece parmesan cheese rind, plus 1/2 cup grated parmesan, and more for topping

2 cups small pasta, such as shells or ditalini

1 bunch kale, stems and ribs discarded, leaves chopped

1/4 cup roughly chopped fresh parsley

Freshly ground pepper

Method:

1. Toss the beef with the all-purpose cornstarch, pepper, 1 teaspoon oil, and soy sauce. Cover for 10 minutes at room temperature.

2. Heat ½ of the oil in a wok or skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef and stir-fry until it’s brown, about 3 minutes. Remove the beef from the pan and set aside. Wash and thoroughly dry the wok or skillet.

3. Heat the remaining oil in the wok or skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, shallots, and chili to the wok or skillet and stir-fry until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the red pepper and stir-fry for 1 minute. Add the reserved beef, lime juice, fish sauce, roasted red chili paste (if using), kaffir lime leaves (if using), and palm sugar; stir-fry for 1–2 minutes or until the beef is cooked through. Add the basil leaves and stir-fry for about 30 seconds or until wilted. Dish out and serve immediately with jasmine rice.