Ingredients:

  • 1 lb 93% lean ground beef
  • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 cup white onion, finely diced
  • 1 cup carrots, minced
  • 1 cup celery, diced small
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 can (15 oz) red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 can (15 oz) cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
  • 1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes with juices
  • 4 cups low sodium beef broth
  • 2 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 1 cup dry ditalini pasta
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • Freshly grated Parmesan cheese for serving

Instructions:

  1. Heat the olive oil in your pot over medium high heat.
  2. Add the ground beef and cook until no longer pink and a brown crust forms. Use your spoon to break it into very small crumbles.
  3. Add the onion, carrots, and celery to the beef. Sauté for about 5 minutes until the onions are translucent and the celery softens.
  4. Stir in the minced garlic. Cook for only 1 minute until the aroma fills the room. Don't let it brown, or it will turn bitter.
  5. Pour in the crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes (with their juices), and the beef broth. Stir well to combine all the elements.
  6. Add the rinsed kidney beans and cannellini beans along with the oregano, thyme, and red pepper flakes. Give it a good stir to distribute the herbs.
  7. Bring the mixture to a boil, then immediately reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes. This allows the flavors to meld into something truly special.
  8. While the soup simmers, cook the ditalini in a separate pot of salted water until just shy of al dente. Drain and set aside. Note: Cooking the pasta separately prevents it from soaking up all the soup broth during storage.
  9. Stir in the balsamic vinegar and the cooked pasta. Let it sit for 2 minutes to warm through.
  10. Turn off the heat and stir in the fresh parsley. Taste and adjust salt or pepper if needed.
  11. Ladle the soup into bowls and top with a generous dusting of freshly grated Parmesan cheese.