Budget Pasta Fazul (Pasta and Beans)!

[lizzies]

This was a family favorite growing up — tasty, filling, and dirt, dirt cheap! I lived off of this in college. It only take about 20 minutes to make and reheats marvelously. The recipe below is able to provide me with a full week’s lunch and typically costs less than $5 to make altogether.

INGREDIENTS
1 pound pasta (I prefer elbow or cavatappi)
1 can Great Northern Beans
1/2 pound of bacon
Salt, Pepper and Red Pepper Flakes, to taste

1. In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil. (For this recipe, add more salt to your pasta water than you normally would. A little extra salt really makes this recipe).
2. While waiting for water to boil, cut bacon into small chunks (about 1 inch wide) and saute in a small saucepan until bacon is cooked. Drain excess fat.
3. Add the entire can of Great Northern Beans into the saucepan with your cooked bacon. Add seasonings to taste. I usually like a teaspoon of red pepper flakes in mine. Reduce heat to slow simmer and cover.
4. Add your pasta to boiling water.
5. Once pasta is cooked, drain, but leave a very small amount of water in the pan with the pasta. This helps coat your pasta with your sauce.
6. Uncover your bacon/bean mixture. The beans should be soft and break easily when pressure is applied. Remove the small saucepan from heat and use the back of your spoon to break up the beans a little bit. This creates a nice, smooth texture when you’re eating.
7. Add the bacon/bean mixture to your pasta, mix it all up, and enjoy! (A little grated Parmesan on top is tasty, too).

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