Pasta e ceci is a comforting, classic Italian dish thick with pasta and chickpeas. This version, almost like a chunky soup, is loaded with bright, tender spinach and escarole. It’s flavored with rosemary and a touch of heat from crushed red pepper flakes.
| Level: | Easy |
| Total: | 35 min |
| Active: | 30 min |
| Yield: | 4 servings |
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 stalks celery, chopped
- Kosher salt
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 teaspoons minced fresh rosemary
- 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 15-ounce can chickpeas, drained, liquid reserved
- 1 cup ditalini
- 6 cups roughly chopped escarole (from about 1/2 head)
- 4 cups baby spinach
- Grated pecorino romano cheese, for topping
- Freshly ground pepper
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven or other large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion, celery and 1/2 teaspoon salt; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic, rosemary and red pepper flakes and cook 1 minute.
- Stir the chickpeas into the pot and cook 1 minute. Add 4 cups water, the reserved chickpea liquid and 1/2 teaspoon salt and bring to a boil. Stir in the pasta; reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally to prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom of the pot, until the pasta is tender, about 10 minutes.
- Add the escarole and spinach to the pasta, cover and cook until wilted, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and season with salt. Divide among bowls; top with pecorino and a few grinds of pepper.
Nutrition Facts
| Calories | 460 |
| Total Fat | 19 grams |
| Saturated Fat | 3 grams |
| Cholesterol | 5 milligrams |
| Sodium | 866 milligrams |
| Carbohydrates | 57 grams |
| Dietary Fiber | 13 grams |
| Sugar | 8 grams |
| Protein | 17 grams |
Reviews
Quite good. Used collard greens instead of escarole which I could not find and chickpea pasta to up the protein.
Unfortunately this was SO bland. First concern was seeing 4 c water to make the broth so I went 50/50 water and chix broth. Not a salter but found I was adding mult x while cooking, still bland. Added bunch of extra fresh grated parm, still bland. Nothing was saving this dish. 0 for 3 with the fam. Bummer cuz it was alot of washing, chopping n dicing. Love FN but skip this one.