By Chef Joseph Massaglia
When I say the word “Asti” what is the first thing that comes to mind? My guess is it may be Asti Spumante, Italy’s famous sparkling wine. Spumante (meaning “sparkling wine” in Italian) is a white wine made with Moscato Bianco grapes from Italy’s Piedmont wine region. Its production is mainly focused around Alba and the province of Asti in my home area of the Piedmontese in northern Italy.
However, there are many famous foods done in the Asti or Piedmontese style, one of which is a very delicious vegetable soup which I’m sharing with you here. During the cool, windy months here at the Jersey Shore, there’s nothing like a hot bowl of soup to make you feel warm inside and out.
This soup, like many of the recipes made by Nonnas throughout Italy, probably originated because people lived in very rural areas and didn’t have very much money. They were farmers or winemakers and usually lived off their land – in those days there wasn’t a big grocery store in the town they could go to for groceries. Therefore, they became very creative in using all the ingredients they had on hand, and they didn’t waste anything, even food scraps.
This soup uses white haricot beans, which we know in America as cannellini beans. Like other bean soups, it also uses pasta, primarily the small, round cut called ditalini, or rice to “stretch” out the ingredients. Remember, in those days families were large and there were a lot of mouths to feed.
Here is an original recipe for Vegetable Soup Asti Style, which I ate frequently when I was growing up. My mother used to add the heel of Parmesan cheese to the soup when it was cooking for additional flavor, so if you have one on hand throw it into the pot.
This recipe is one of 600 authentic recipes on my website (www.joestablefortwo.com). It is from the Italian Regional Cooking cookbook by famous Italian cookbook author Ada Boni. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Be well, be safe, and continue to wear a mask.
Buon Appetito!
Vegetable Soup Asti Style (Piedmont)
(Serves 6 to 8)
- 1 pound dried cannellini beans, soaked overnight*
- 16 cups (4 quarts) water (decrease slightly if using canned beans)
- 1 small cabbage, shredded
- 4 medium-sized russet potatoes, peeled and diced
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 to 3 celery stalks, chopped
- Salt to taste
- ¾ pound ditalini pasta or rice**
- ½ pound salt pork, diced ***
- 2 cloves garlic
- 2 to 3 sprigs parsley, finely chopped
- 10 to 12 fresh basil leaves, chopped
- 4 ounces grated Parmesan cheese
- White pepper and salt to taste
- Extra-virgin olive oil to drizzle on top when serving.
Rinse and pick through dried beans; put in a pot and cover with water by two inches Soak overnight. Drain, then put the beans in a large pot, add the 16 cups of water and bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour. (If using canned beans, skip this step. Just add beans and water with the cabbage and other ingredients in step 2.)
Add cabbage, potatoes, carrots, celery and salt to taste, and continue to simmer for 40 minutes.
Add the noodles (or rice) and cook for another 10 to 12 minutes over high heat (15-20 minutes for rice).
Meanwhile, pound the salt pork to a paste with the garlic, parsley and basil. Add the grated cheese and dilute with a few tablespoons of the vegetable stock. (This can be done in a food processor.)
Pour the mixture into the soup; stir well. Continue to simmer the soup for an additional 10 to 15 minutes to heat the pork mixture thoroughly.
Season with a little white pepper and additional salt, if needed. Serve immediately, drizzling each bowl with a little olive oil.
Note:
* 4 (15-ounce) cans cannellini beans, rinsed and drained, can be substituted. Start with 14 to 15 cups of water; add more if necessary.
** Ditalini are tiny, thimble-shaped noodles. Other small, round pasta can be substituted.
*** Thick cut bacon can be substituted.
The One and Only Original Mama Mia’s Restaurante in the Marmora Shopping Center is open for take-out Monday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. We are open for indoor dining Wednesday to Sunday, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Limited Seating Available. Reservations Necessary. Take-Out and Delivery is available to Upper Township and Ocean City. Mama’s Take Home Pizza Kits also are available; please call to reserve yours. 609-624-9322.
www.mamamiasnj.com
Joe’s Discount Club
* 10% off your wine purchase at Joe Canal’s Discount Liquor Stores in Egg Harbor Township when you mention Joe’s Table for Two.
Joe’s Table for Two radio show airs Saturday mornings from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on WOND 1400 AM. Website: www.joestablefortwo.com. Facebook: Joe’s Table for 2 and Eat at Joe’s EHT. Contact Joe: joestablefortwo@gmail.com.
