Tuscan Pasta and Beans Recipe - Vegan in the Freezer (2024)

Published: . Last Updated: by: Ginny McMeans

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This rustic-looking pasta and beans dish is made with protein-rich and filling white beans, healthy fats, crunchy vegetables, and a heavenly Basil Tomato sauce that brings a comforting taste of Italy to your dinner table!

Tuscan Pasta and Beans Recipe - Vegan in the Freezer (1)

Don’t you love making wholesome meals that are deliciously satisfying but are also put together in no time? Well, this recipe is for you.

It is so easy to make, and you can have this ready in less than 30 minutes.

Table of Contents

Healthy Pasta Recipe

This Tuscan Pasta and Beans recipe is a perfectly balanced weeknight meal with a lot of simple and fresh ingredients:

  • The cannellini beans add healthy proteins.
  • Extra virgin olive oil coats it with healthy fats and gives you that wonderful aroma of Italian pasta.
  • Vegetables such as white onions and carrots complement this dish with a lovely natural sweet flavor and a slightly crunchy texture!
  • But it is not just the hearty beans, fresh vegetables, or even the added sage herbs. Nope, it is the Basil Tomato sauce!

And what is not to love about using a great ready-made pasta sauce to make a hearty meal on busy weekdays?

 

Tuscan Pasta and Beans Recipe - Vegan in the Freezer (2)

I usually plan ahead of time about what to make during the week and go well-prepared to the supermarket with notes in hand and dinners all planned out.

Sometimes this doesn't happen. You know, those weeks when things fall behind, and you end up in the store unprepared.

You end up wandering around up and down the aisles, trying to figure out what to make. That's what happened to me this week.

I was picking up goodies here and there. Then I turn the corner, and I am faced with a bunch of beautiful jars of premade pasta sauces.

They reminded me of a delicious white bean and pasta dish I enjoyed in an Italian restaurant in Southern California. My memory glommed onto the flavors and I was sold.

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Three sauces grabbed my attention:

  • The basil & tomato flavored sauce
  • The tomatoes and Vidalia onion sauce
  • and then there was a spicy Arrabbiata pasta sauce

For this Tuscan inspired recipe, I chose the first one, basil and tomato.

Well, I'll admit I bought all three of the pasta sauces. I couldn't resist because premade spaghetti sauces can make dinner so much easier when you don’t have anything pre-planned or have one of those busy days!

They're also great to dunk in with many appetizers or side dishes, such as these Vegan Chickpea Cauliflower Tots.

The sauce that I chose for this dish only had a few ingredients but tastes homemade. It coats the linguini and vegetables with a creamy, sweet flavor and makes this Tuscan Pasta and Beans incredibly satisfying!

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Above are a few photos so that you have a visual for the beginning of this healthy pasta meal.

First is a pot starting to boil the small carrot cubes, then sauteing the onions, and next it's adding some of the 'carrot water' to the sauce.

A special note on the recipe:

You'll notice that in the instructions, I add to the sauce ¼ cup of water in which the carrots were cooked. This is to make sure that the overall dish does not become a little too dry when adding the white beans and the linguini. It also adds more flavor to the sauce!

Also, a really good toasted garlic bread would be perfect with this pasta meal, and using a few slices of this Best Homemade Vegan Bread would be ideal.

You are Going to Love Tuscan Pasta and Beans

  • It is so easy to make
  • It is a beautiful and wholesome family meal with fresh ingredients
  • The premade spaghetti sauce is rich, creamy, and offers beautiful Italian flavors as if it were made from scratch.
  • The leftovers are even better!

Add the carrots, beans, herbs, and spices to your prepared sauce for a beautiful mix.

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Next, stir and heat through, and then remove half of the sauce from the skillet and set aside.

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Add the cooked linguine and stir through the sauce in the skillet. Serve on plates or in pasta bowls with the remaining sauce on the side.

A true Tuscan classic.

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All you have to do is make it for dinner tonight!

📋 Recipe

Tuscan Pasta and Beans Recipe - Vegan in the Freezer (8)

Tuscan White Bean Pasta

Ginny McMeans

Tuscan White Bean Pasta is a comfort dinner that can be put together in no time.

4.62 from 13 votes

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Main Dish

Cuisine Pasta

Servings 6 Servings

Calories 294 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • ¼ cup diced white onion
  • 1 ½ cups carrots, diced small - 2 carrots
  • ¼ cup water reserved from the carrot water
  • 28 ounces your favorite spaghetti sauce with basil
  • 15 ounces cannellini beans
  • ½ teaspoon dried sage
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 10 ounce linguine, uncooked

Instructions

  • Heat the oil in a large skillet.

  • Add the onion and saute for about 10 minutes.

  • While the onion is cooking, add the carrots to a medium sized saucepan and cover with water.

  • Cover and bring to a boil. Remove the lid and lightly boil for 10-15 minutes or until the carrots are pierced easily with a fork.

  • While the carrots are cooking - cook the linguine according to package directions.

  • Drain the carrots (reserving ¼ cup of the water).

  • When the onions are done add the sauce and reserved water to the skillet.

  • Add the beans, carrots, sage, salt and pepper and heat through.

  • Drain the linguine and toss with half of the tomato vegetable sauce.

  • If it has cooled off too much - turn the heat back on and heat through quickly.

  • Serve with the remaining heated sauce to be added over the top when served.

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 294kcalCarbohydrates: 56gProtein: 12gFat: 3gSodium: 1258mgPotassium: 655mgFiber: 7gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 5920IUVitamin C: 11.6mgCalcium: 80mgIron: 3.6mg

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Tuscan Pasta and Beans Recipe - Vegan in the Freezer (2024)

FAQs

What is pasta fa*gioli made of? ›

Pasta e fa*gioli, sometimes shortened to pasta fa*gioli (or pasta fazool if you're a Sopranos fan), is a classic Italian soup. Its name literally translates to “pasta and beans,” and it consists of tiny pasta, creamy beans, and tender vegetables in a fragrant tomato broth.

Can you eat beans with pasta? ›

The classic combination of beans and greens makes for an easy, hearty, and nutritious pasta sauce that puts pantry staples to good use. Bean cooking liquid (or stock) boosts flavor while starch from the beans and pasta water gives the sauce a creamy consistency without adding dairy.

What does fazool mean in Italian? ›

Actually spelled "fa*gioli " 1. Italian for bean . 2. Term used for money or a bill .

Can pasta fa*gioli be frozen? ›

TO STORE: Store leftover pasta fa*gioli in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. TO REHEAT: Warm on the stovetop or in the microwave until steaming. TO FREEZE: Freeze pasta fa*gioli for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

What is healthier beans or pasta? ›

White pasta tends to be less healthy because it contains fewer nutrients when compared to legumes, including beans and lentils. Although similar in carbohydrate and fat content, legumes are more nutritionally dense and contain more protein, fiber, iron, calcium, and antioxidants than pasta.

Is pasta and beans healthy? ›

Vegetable and bean pastas are perfect for those looking to watch calories overall and get more daily fiber and protein into their diet. But sometimes, you just want a bowl of the good stuff. And that's okay! "Pasta isn't a bad food when eaten in moderation," says Bealert.

What not to do when making pasta? ›

Cooking pasta: 5 mistakes
  1. Toss the pasta when the water is cold. This is probably the most common and also the most serious mistake you can make in cooking pasta. ...
  2. Using the wrong measure of salt. ...
  3. Cooking pasta in a small pot. ...
  4. Overcooking the pasta. ...
  5. Drain the pasta too much.
Sep 14, 2023

Does pasta fa*gioli contain meat? ›

While the two are very similar, minestrone contains a wide variety of vegetables while the pasta e fa*gioli at Olive Garden features more beans and noodles. It also has a much thicker texture, almost like stew, and a stronger tomato flavor. Does pasta fa*gioli contain meat? Yes.

Is pasta fa*gioli the same as minestrone? ›

The answer is that traditionally, yes, there's a difference, even if you can't spot it right away. While Pasta e fa*gioli tends to be a thick and hearty bowl of beans and pasta, the thing it lacks is chunks of veggies. That's where Minestrone comes in…to fill the veggie void left by its country cousin.

Why is it called pasta fa*gioli? ›

The name means "pasta and beans" in Italian. The dish typically includes ingredients such as cannellini beans, small pasta shapes like ditalini or elbow macaroni, tomatoes, onions, garlic, and herbs like rosemary and parsley. Some variations may also include vegetables like carrots, celery, or spinach.

Is pasta fa*gioli high in carbs? ›

Olive Garden Pasta E fa*gioli (1 serving) contains 21g total carbs, 17g net carbs, 6g fat, 9g protein, and 180 calories.

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