Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Alessi Pasta Fazool Neapolitan Bean Soup


Pasta Fazool (Minestrone) is synonymous with the Southern region of Italy. 
"Fazool" is from the Italian word "Fagioli", which means "bean". 
The Neapolitans perfected this thick, three bean, multi-vegetable pasta soup. 
This entitled them to rename the dish in their own dialect, and it thus became known as"Pasta Fazool."

Additions:

4 1/2 Cups water
(What I added:
Celery 5 stalks
Barley, quick cook, about 1 cup
Half or 3/4 of a Sharp White Onion
Handful of baby tomato
Handful of cooked porcini mushrooms
2 x5 inches of Parmesean Cheese
Splash of Red Wine
1 Tablespoon Irish Butter)

Analysis at bottom of this page/post.

Cooking Directions:
Bring water to a boil in a 3 quart pot.
Add mix and stir for one minute. Stir frequently to avoid possible overflow.
Reduce heat to medium and cook uncovered for 12 minutes. Soup should bubble during cooking. Stir occasionally.
Remove from heat. For authentic Italian taste, stir in 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil. Serve and enjoy.

Ingredients:
Dehydrated Beans (Red, Pinto, Navy), Pasta (Durum Semolina, (Niacin Ferous Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin added)), Dehydrated Vegetable (Potato, Tomato, Onion, Zucchini, Carrots, Celery, Garlic, Peas, Broccoli, Parsley), Corn Cereal Solids, Salt, Modified Food Starch, Sugar, Monosodium Glutamate, Natural Flavor (Hydrolized Corn Gluten, Partially Hydrogenated Soybean and Cottonseed Oil), Spices, Dehydrated Chicken Meat, Turmeric, Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate.

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1/3 cup (42g) dry mix
Makes 1 cup prepared
Serving Per Container: About 4
Amount per Serving        
Calories     140    
Calories from Fat     5
   
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0.5g     1%    
Sat. Fat 0g     0%    
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg     0%    
Sodium 680mg     28%    
Total Carbs 29g     10%    
Dietary Fiber 6g     24%    
Sugars 7g
Protein 6g
Vitamin A     4%    
Vitamin C     10%    
Calcium     4%    
Iron     10%    
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

ADD spices such as rosemary, a tad of garlic, bayleaf, and maybe, just maybe a leaf of lemon balm... if you like that sort of flavor.  I refrain from stating to add salt... but truth be told I sure was craving a  bit.   The soup mix didn't add any additional yummy flavors as if one used homemade chicken stock and just barely pre-cooked three or four types of pasta.  The celery, the onion, and the mushrooms added something different to the whole.   But after a while if all one uses is homemade chicken stock, mirepoix, and pasta... it begins to all taste the same.