Skip to Content
Recipes

How to Make Pasta and Beans

This variation on the classic pasta e fagioli is from the Veneto and calls for "badly cut" pasta.

By The Silver Spoon

10:00 AM EDT on April 17, 2025

Bowl of pasta e fagioli

Pasta and beans, the Italian dish known as pasta e fagiol. Photo: Matt Russell

Here is how to make pasta and beans, or pasta e fasiòi, a rustic-style dish of maltagliati (“badly cut”) pasta, in a hearty soup-style dish typical of the Veneto region, particularly during the winter months. The beans are soaked overnight, so leave plenty of time to prepare.

For those familiar with the southern Italian and Americanized version commonly known as pasta e fagioli (or even pasta fazool), this is essentially the same dish. Variations of soups made with pasta and beans hail from several regions of Italy, but this recipe comes from a cookbook devoted to regional Italian cuisine and represents the Veneto.

Adapted from The Regional Italian Cookbook by The Silver Spoon (Phaidon, US $59.95, 2025)

Pasta and Beans (Pasta e fasiòi)

Pasta and Beans (Pasta e fasiòi)

Recipe by The Silver Spoon
0.0 from 0 votes
Cuisine: Italian
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

30

minutes
Cooking time

2

hours 

40

minutes

Ingredients

  • 14 ounces 14 /21/4 cups/400 g dried white beans

  • 3 tablespoons 3 extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra to serve

  • 4 4 fresh sage leaves

  • 1 clove 1 garlic, crushed

  • 3 tablespoons 3 finely chopped tomatoes

  • 3 ounces 3 /80 g egg maltagliati pasta

  • Salt and black pepper

Directions

  • Soak the beans in a large bowl of water overnight. The next day, drain and cook them in a large saucepan of water for 2 hours, or until tender. Drain the beans, transfer half of them to a blender or food processor, and blend to a purée. Set the other beans aside.
  • Heat the oil in a large saucepan, add the sage and crushed garlic, and fry for 2 minutes. Add the puréed beans, about 50 fl oz/6 cups/1.5 liters water, and the chopped tomatoes. Season sparingly with salt and cook for 30 minutes.
  • Add the whole beans followed by the pasta and cook for about 10 minutes. The bean mixture should have quite a thick consistency. Remove from the heat and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper.
  • Serve the pasta e fasiòi hot, warm, or cold—the dish is delicious any which way—and always with a drizzle of oil.

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @appetitomagazine on Instagram and hashtag it with #italianfoodanddrink

Like this recipe?

Follow @Appetitomagazine on Pinterest

Follow us on Facebook!

Follow us on Facebook

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More Stories

Asolo: The Hidden Hill Town of History and Perfect Prosecco

Asolo makes a compelling case for leaving Italy’s well-traveled roads behind.

August 17, 2026

A Fagiolo: The Right Thing is a Bean in Italian

One small legume can be timely, useful, welcome, and exactly right.

August 17, 2026

More Big News for Birrittella’s Pizza Dough

Our Editor-in-Chief shares the news of Birrittella's Pizza Dough launching two of its signature products in Target stores nationwide.

August 17, 2026

Sunday Shop: The effortlessly versatile dress I’ve worn on repeat this summer (and plan to wear into fall, too)

Morgan Hines seeks out the best in not only food and drink but style, housewares, and more. Welcome to Appetito’s Sunday Shop!

August 16, 2026

My Accidental Ferragosto: What Italy Teaches Us About Summer

When weekend plans unexpectedly disappeared, I discovered the pleasure of slowing down and embracing a little Italian summer spirit.

August 14, 2026

Chef POV: Italian Food News, Gifts and Kitchen Finds

These new releases bring a little fun, flavor and Italian flair to the season.

August 14, 2026