Pasta e Ceci

A soup/stew that’s very robust and flexible (the first time I made it, I didn’t have time to go to the store, so I used bacon instead of pancetta, skipped the anchovies, added a little more pepper flakes and used a different pasta). Originally from Cooks Illustrated.

Prep/hands on: 5 minutes; start to finish: 30 minutes +/-

Ingredients

• 2 ounces pancetta, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 small carrot, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 small celery rib, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 4 garlic cloves, peeled
• 1 onion, halved and cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 (14-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes, drained
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra for serving
• 1 anchovy fillet, rinsed, patted dry, and minced
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 2 teaspoons minced fresh rosemary
• 2 (15-ounce) can chickpeas (do not drain)
• 2 cups water
• Salt and pepper
• 8 ounces (1 1/2 cups) ditalini
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
• 1 ounce Parmesan cheese, grated (1/2 cup)

Directions:

1. Process pancetta in food processor until ground to paste, about 30 seconds. Add carrot, celery, and garlic and pulse until finely chopped, 8 to 10 pulses. Add onion and pulse until onion is cut into 1/8 – to – 1/4-inch pieces, 8 to 10 pulses.
2. Transfer mixture to large Dutch oven or soup pot. Pulse tomatoes in now-empty food processor until coarsely chopped, 8 to 10 pulses. Set aside.
3. Add oil to pancetta mixture in Dutch oven and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until fond begins to form on bottom of pot, about 5 minutes.
4. Add anchovy, pepper flakes, and rosemary and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
5. Stir in tomatoes, chickpeas and their liquid, water, and 1 teaspoon salt and bring to boil, scraping up any browned bits.
6. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 10 minutes.
7. Add pasta and cook, stirring frequently, until tender, 10 to 12 minutes.
8. Stir in lemon juice and parsley and season with salt and pepper to taste.
9. Serve, passing Parmesan and oil separately.