Pasta with Tomato Sauce and Lemony Bean

Serves 4

Recipe from Everyday Food

Husband-Tested in Alice’s Kitchen

It’s pasta.  It’s creamy beans.  It’s lemon.  It’s cheese.  What’s not to like? 

Ingredients

Salt and pepper

½ pound medium shell pasta (I used whole wheat rigatoni.)

3 Tablespoons olive oil, divided

1 small yellow onion, minced

2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced, divided

1 can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes

¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

1 bay leaf

1 can (15.5 ounces) cannellini beans, rinsed and drained

1 teaspoon zest, plus 2 teaspoons juice from 1 lemon

¼ cup rough chopped fresh parsley

¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook pasta according to package instructions. Reserve 1 cup pasta water. Drain and return pasta to pot. Meanwhile, in a medium saucepot, heat 1 Tablespoon olive oil over medium. Add onion and half the garlic and sauté. Add pepper flakes and bay leaf and cook until fragrant, 1 minute. Add tomato and juices, 3/4 cup pasta water, and salt and pepper. Bring to a rapid simmer and cook until tomato pieces begin to break down and liquid thickens, about 15 minutes. Discard bay leaf and, using a hand blender or food processor, blend tomato mixture until coarsely pureed. Toss with pasta to coat.

In a small skillet, heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil over medium. Add remaining garlic and cook until soft and fragrant, 1 minute. Add beans and remaining 1/4 cup pasta water and cook until beans are heated through. Stir in lemon zest and juice, and parsley. Season with salt and pepper. Divide pasta among bowls, top with warm bean mixture and sprinkle with Parmesan.