Pasta e Ceci
Roman chickpea and pasta soup with rosemary.
Ingredients
- 2 tin Chickpeas
- 150 g Ditalini
- 3 cloves Garlic
- 1 Rosemary
- 1 tbsp Tomato paste
- 4 tbsp Extra-virgin olive oil
- 900 ml Vegetable stock
- 1 tsp Salt
Method
- Peel and thinly slice the garlic.
- Warm the garlic and rosemary in olive oil, then stir in the tomato paste.
- Add the chickpeas and stock and simmer, mashing some for body, about 12 minutes.
- Stir in the ditalini and cook until tender, loosening with water if needed.
- Serve with olive oil.
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About Pasta e Ceci
Pasta e ceci is a Roman chickpea soup, a cucina povera classic that turned pantry staples into a filling, nourishing meal long before beans were fashionable. It sits in the same family as pasta e fagioli but leans on chickpeas and the resinous perfume of rosemary rather than a soffritto of vegetables. The dish is defined by its texture: some of the chickpeas are mashed as they simmer so the broth thickens into something between a soup and a stew, thick enough to hold a spoon upright. Small ditalini cook right in the pot, taking on the flavor of the base and releasing starch that adds more body still.
The taste is earthy and warming, the tomato paste lending a savory, faintly sweet depth while garlic and rosemary infused into the oil give it a fragrant, almost piney backbone. It's the kind of bowl that feels restorative on a cold evening, and being vegan and high in fiber it makes an honest weeknight dinner that leaves you full. A final drizzle of raw extra-virgin olive oil over the top is traditional and worth doing, adding a peppery, fruity finish that ties everything together. Serve it with crusty bread to mop the bowl, and it's just as good the next day once it's had time to thicken further.
Pasta e Ceci: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Pasta e Ceci?
A serving has about 489 calories — 16.8g protein, 66.4g carbs, 17.8g fat, 10.7g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is Pasta e Ceci gluten-free?
As written, no — it contains Ditalini. You'd need a certified gluten-free swap for that ingredient to make it gluten-free.
How long does Pasta e Ceci take to make?
About 30 minutes start to finish, but only around 17 of those are hands-on — the rest is cooking time. In the Homecooked app the timers and parallel steps are sequenced for you so the hands-on part feels even shorter.
How many servings does Pasta e Ceci make?
This recipe makes 4 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.