Pasta e Ceci

4.94 from 33 votes

Pasta e ceci is a comforting combination of tiny pasta, chickpeas, carrots, onions, celery, and garlic simmered in a tomato broth with rosemary. This simple dish can be ready in under an hour.

Prep Time5

Cook Time45

Total Time50

Course: Soup

Cuisine: Italian

Servings:

Author: James Delmage and Tara

Ingredients

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 ribs celery diced
1 medium onion diced
2 medium carrots diced
5 cloves garlic minced
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
3 16 ounce cans chickpeas drained, but don't rinse
4 cups low sodium vegetable stock to start but add more as needed
1 cup canned plum tomatoes hand crushed
1 Parmigiano rind
1 sprig Rosemary
1/2 pound small shell pasta or ditalini, elbows, etc
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Heat a large heavy pot to medium-low with the extra virgin olive oil and saute the onions, celery, and carrots until very soft (about 12 minutes). Once soft, add in the garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes more or until just golden. Finally, add the hot red pepper flakes and cook for 30 seconds.
Add the tomatoes, chickpeas, Parmigiano rind, rosemary, and stock, and bring to a boil. Once boiling, lower the heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
Lower the heat to medium and crush some of the chickpeas by smashing them against the side of the pot with a wooden spoon. For a creamier consistency use an immersion blender.
Add in the pasta and cook until al dente. Keep an eye on the pot and stir very frequently to avoid sticking. The pasta will absorb much of the liquid so add more water or stock as needed. The final consistency is 100% a personal preference. If you like it soupier, add more stock or water.
Once the pasta has reached al dente turn off the heat and taste test. Adjust salt, pepper, and hot red pepper to taste.
When satisfied with the taste, serve in bowls with crusty bread. Offer grated cheese and drizzle your best extra virgin olive onto each bowl. Enjoy!

Video

Notes

Small pasta like ditalini, small shells, and elbows are all great choices. Even broken spaghetti works well.
If you plan to have leftovers, be sure to cook the pasta separately. Otherwise, it's preferred to cook the pasta in the sauce to better absorb the flavors.
Leftovers can be saved for up to 3 days and can be reheated in the microwave.

Nutrition