Pasta Fagioli

adapted from Giada De Laurentiis, Giada’s Family Dinners

Ingredients

4 sprigs fresh thyme
1 large sprig fresh rosemary
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
1 cup chopped onion
2 teaspoons minced garlic

6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
2 (14.5-ounce) cans red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
3/4 cup small pasta (I used Ditalini "little thimbles")
Fresh ground black pepper
1/3 cup grated Parmesan
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

Directions

Wrap the thyme, rosemary, and bay leaf in a piece of cheesecloth and secure closed with kitchen twine, or coarsely chop the herbs and add directly to soup. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and butter in a heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, and garlic and sauté until the onion is tender, about 3 minutes. Add the broth, beans, and herbs. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat, then decrease the heat to medium and simmer until the vegetables are very tender, about 10 minutes. If used, discard the sachet of herbs. Puree 1 cup of the bean mixture using an immersion blender until smooth. Before putting the puree back into the soup, add the macaroni and boil with the lid on until it is tender but still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Return the puree to the remaining soup in the saucepan and stir well. Season the soup with ground black pepper. Ladle the soup into bowls. Sprinkle with some Parmesan and drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil just before serving.