Toasted Pasta Soup

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Steps to Make It.

Ingredients

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Nutritions

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a:8:{i:0;a:2:{s:5:"title";s:23:"Gather the ingredients";s:4:"text";s:55:"
Gather all ingredients before starting the recipe.
";}i:1;a:2:{s:5:"title";s:39:"Heat olive oil and sauté vegetables";s:4:"text";s:95:"
Add the olive oil to a medium pot over medium heat. Sauté carrots, onions, salt, and spices.
";}i:2;a:2:{s:5:"title";s:34:"Sauté until translucent";s:4:"text";s:78:"
Cook until the onions are translucent and the mixture is tinged yellow.
";}i:3;a:2:{s:5:"title";s:32:"Add pasta and thyme";s:4:"text";s:82:"
Reduce heat, add thyme leaves and stalks, and cook pasta until golden.
";}i:4;a:2:{s:5:"title";s:36:"Add garlic and chili flakes";s:4:"text";s:78:"
Add garlic and chili flakes, continue cooking until garlic is fragrant.
";}i:5;a:2:{s:5:"title";s:30:"Add water or broth";s:4:"text";s:68:"
Add water or broth along with Cajun seasoning, adjust salt to taste.
";}i:6;a:2:{s:5:"title";s:36:"Bring to boil and simmer";s:4:"text";s:98:"
Cover the pot, bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until carrots soften.
";}i:7;a:2:{s:5:"title";s:21:"Serve the soup";s:4:"text";s:104:"
Remove from heat, let rest, discard thyme stalks and bay leaves, then serve hot.
";}}

HTML Directions

• 1

  Gather Ingredients
  

  Gather all the ingredients needed for the toasted pasta soup.

• 2

  Heat Olive Oil
  

  Add the olive oil to a medium pot over medium heat. When the oil shimmers, add the carrots, onions, salt, turmeric, black pepper, and bay leaves.

• 3

  Sauté Vegetables
  

  Sauté the mixture until the vegetables are well coated with oil, the onions become translucent, and the mixture takes on a yellow hue, about 5 minutes.

• 4

  Add Pasta and Thyme
  

  Reduce the heat to low. Add the thyme leaves and stalks along with the pasta. Cook, stirring frequently, until the pasta is golden, about 6 to 8 minutes (the pasta may pop during cooking).

• 5

  Add Garlic and Chili Flakes
  

  Add the garlic and chili flakes, if desired. Continue cooking and stirring until the garlic becomes fragrant, approximately 30 seconds.

• 6

  Add Broth and Seasoning
  

  Pour in the water or broth and add the Cajun seasoning. Adjust the salt to taste as needed.

• 7

  Simmer the Soup
  

  Cover the pot and bring to a boil. If needed, reduce the heat to maintain a steady simmer. Cook until the carrots are tender and the pasta is al dente and has doubled in size, about 6 to 8 minutes (timing will depend on the type of pasta used).

• 8

  Rest and Serve
  

  Remove from the heat and let it rest for 2 to 3 minutes. Discard the thyme stems and bay leaves before serving. Note that the pasta will continue to absorb liquid and swell the longer it sits.

This simple soup begins with vegetables, herbs, spices, and raw soup pasta toasted till brown, then is topped with water or broth to cook on the stove top. I love the combination of flavorful broth and the heft of the pasta. Together they make a soup that’s comforting and hearty. 

When my children were young, I used alphabet pasta and they would eat as they looked for the letters of their names first, and then proceed to other names till the bowls were empty. Even though they’re teenagers now, whenever I find alphabet pasta, I make some and they get all nostalgic, and still look for the letters in their names.

Pick Your Pasta

Though you can make it with almost any pasta shape, I’m partial to “soup” pasta. Small and perfect for cooking in liquid, they come in different shapes. My favorite is acini di pepe—tiny, round pasta named after peppercorns. It reminds me of moghrabieh and Israeli couscous in that it has a fantastic texture and a touch more body than alphabet pasta. 

Other pastas that you can use include orzo, shaped like rice; seme di melone, which resemble melon or pumpkin seeds; stellette, shaped like stars; and of course, alphabet pasta. You don’t have to go out to buy soup pasta—you can use whatever you have at home, as is, or broken into smaller bits.

A Versatile Base for Experimentation

This is a flexible and forgiving recipe so let the instructions be a guide on your journey to flavors and textures that you like. Sometimes we switch up the vegetables, add greens, mix pastas, and season with different spice blends. 

The one thing I always do, and recommend you do too, is toast the pasta. It deepens the flavor, and prevents the pasta from going soft too quickly.

How to Serve This Soup

Make this soup all year round, or save it for fall and winter. Serve on its own, or pair with bread or croutons; and top with your favorite pesto—basil, tomato, or a lemony one; or finish with some fresh herbs. Enjoy.

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