Best Pasta E Ceci Con Vongole Recipes

Pasta e Ceci (Italian Pasta and Chickpea Stew) image

Provided by Colu Henry

Time 30m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

3 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for drizzling
1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
1/2 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
Kosher salt and black pepper
1 packed cup canned whole tomatoes, drained
1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed
1 cup ditalini
4 cups roughly chopped escarole, Tuscan kale or radicchio
Grated pecorino, for serving

Steps:

Heat the oil in a large stock pot or Dutch oven over medium. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened but not taking on any color, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic, rosemary and red-pepper flakes, and cook 1 minute more. Season well with salt and pepper.
Stir in the tomatoes and the chickpeas, breaking up the tomatoes with the back of a spoon or spatula and smashing about 1/2 cup of the beans.
Add 3 cups water and bring to a boil over high. Add the pasta and simmer, stirring often to make sure nothing sticks to the bottom of the pan, until the pasta is al dente, about 10 minutes. The water will mostly be absorbed by the pasta, but if you prefer it brothier, you can add 1/2 to 1 cup water and simmer until warmed through, 1 minute more. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Add the escarole and stir until wilted. Taste and adjust seasonings accordingly. Ladle into bowls and top with grated cheese and a drizzle of olive oil.

Pasta e Ceci con Vongole image

Yield Makes 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 cup dried garbanzo beans (chickpeas; about 7 ounces)
6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
3 garlic cloves, peeled, divided
1 6-inch-long fresh rosemary sprig
1/4 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
1 3/4 pounds small clams (such as Manila)
1 cup ditalini or other short hollow pasta (about 5 ounces)

Steps:

Place garbanzo beans in medium bowl. Pour enough cold water over to cover; let soak at room temperature overnight. Drain. Place garbanzo beans in large saucepan; add enough fresh water to cover. Boil 15 minutes. Drain. Return garbanzo beans to pan; add 4 cups water, 3 tablespoons oil, 2 garlic cloves, rosemary sprig, and crushed red pepper. Bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered until beans are tender, adding more water as needed by 1/2 cupfuls, about 2 hours. Discard rosemary sprig. Transfer 1 cup garbanzo bean mixture to processor and puree until smooth; return to mixture in saucepan.
Heat remaining 3 tablespoons oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add remaining garlic clove; sauté until golden, about 2 minutes. Add clams and 1/4 cup water; cover and cook until clams open, about 5 minutes (discard garlic and any clams that do not open). Cool clams slightly; reserve pan juices. Working over bowl to catch juices, remove clams from shells; discard shells. Strain pan juices and clam juice from bowl into garbanzo bean mixture, then add 3 1/2 cups water and bring to boil. Add pasta and cook until pasta is just tender but still firm to bite, adding more water if soup is too thick and stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Stir in clams. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Ladle soup into bowls and serve.