New Year's "Good Luck" Pasta Fazool

Chef John's New Year's good luck pasta fazool (pasta e fagioli) recipe with bacon, Swiss chard, and cannellini beans will make you feel lucky any time.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 45 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins
• Calories: 293 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 cup water
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste
• 4 cloves garlic, finely minced
• 1 pinch red pepper flakes, or to taste
• 1 drizzle olive oil
• 1 large bunch Swiss chard
• 1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
• 1 (15.5 ounce) can cannellini beans, drained
• 12 ounces bacon, sliced into 1-inch pieces
• 0.5 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 0.25 teaspoon dried thyme
• 0.25 teaspoon dried oregano
• 0.5 cup diced onion
• 0.5 cup diced celery
• 1.25 cups orecchiette pasta
• 1 tablespoon freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, or to taste

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Stir in beans; increase heat to high and bring to a boil. Stir in pasta; reduce heat to medium-high. Cook until pasta is tender, 12 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Step 2

Heat a soup pot over medium heat. Add bacon; cook, stirring occasionally, until fat has mostly rendered and bacon begins to crisp, about 5 minutes. Drain off all but about 1 tablespoon drippings. Add onion, celery, and salt to the pot; sauté until softened and onion turns translucent, 5 to 7 minutes.

Step 3

Stir in tomato paste, black pepper, dried oregano, dried thyme, and cayenne pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tomato paste starts to caramelize onto bottom of the pot, about 2 minutes. Add minced garlic; cook and stir, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in chicken broth and water; increase heat to high and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium; simmer while you prep Swiss chard.

Step 4

Remove chard leaves from stems; discard stems. Gather a handful of leaves and slice in one direction; turn and slice in other direction. Repeat with remaining chard leaves; place into a bowl and fill with water. Swish leaves to remove dirt; transfer washed leaves to a colander, a handful at a time, to drain.

Step 5

Add Swiss chard to the pot; simmer over medium heat until leaves become tender, about 10 minutes. Season with salt.

Step 6

Taste; adjust seasonings. Top servings with Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, a drizzle of olive oil, and red pepper flakes.