These are frugal recipes from my grandmother (Good Cheap Food I Learned From My Grandmother). So pasta fazool (pasta & beans) was one of my Friday favorites. My grandmother or mom would make this in the winter on Fridays because it is meatless. We were good Catholics. I loved Friday dinners.
1 lb dried navy bean or garbanzo beans (then it would be pasta ceci)
2 cans tomato paste 6 oz each
2 cloves garlic
olive oil about 3 tablespoons
salt & pepper to taste
1lb short pasta like ditali or short noodles (but kulski noodles are really good in this) or home made noodles
Wash & soak beans over night. Drain and add about 10 cups water cold water. Bring to a boil and then lower heat to simmer and add garlic cloves. Stir occasionally with wooden spoon to not break up beans. Cook til beans are done about 2 hours but test. Do not drain extra liquid.
In a frying pan add the olive oil and the tomato paste and pepper (about 1/4 teaspoon or more to taste). Cook slowly on low heat for about 10 minutes stirring to keep from browning or burning. Add to cooked beans and liquid.
About 15 minutes before serving add cooked pasta and heat through. Makes a lot and can be frozen.