Pasta e Ceci (Italian Chickpea Soup)

This iconic Italian pasta and chickpea soup, pasta e ceci, is as easy as it is delicious! This flavor-filled stew makes a cozy vegetarian lunch or dinner.

Pasta e ceci is a traditional Italian “pasta and chickpea soup,” and how we’ve gone this long without making it on the regular is beyond me! Alex and I have devoted years to learning Italian classics, honing the perfect margherita pizza and cacio e pepe. So we’re thrilled to unveil this recipe! This stew is full of big Italian flavors: intense vibrant tomato, leafy Tuscan kale, and a creamy broth made with Parmesan rind. Swimming in it all are the chickpeas and pasta of the soup’s title, making it hearty and filling. It’s a stunner and joins our other Italian soup favorites tortellini soup, ribollita and minestrone. How to make it? Andiamo!

What’s in pasta e ceci?

There are hundreds of ways to make pasta e ceci, just like American potato salad and coleslaw. This Italian stew is traditionally served in Rome on Tuesdays and Fridays, according to their unofficial weekly meal schedule on Tuesdays and Fridays. You’ll see it scrawled on restaurant blackboards as the daily special. Of course, every outfit makes it differently, depending on the week and what’s on hand.

The only real constant in pasta e ceci is the pasta and chickpeas. The broth is often tomato-based but doesn’t have to be, and sometimes it contains anchovies. The pasta can be round or tubes or roughly cut squares. Really, anything goes here! Here’s what we chose to use in our pasta e ceci:

Onion, garlic, & Tuscan kale
Canned fire roasted tomatoes & tomato paste
Olive oil
Vegetable broth
Chickpeas
Pasta: any type of short cut (we used rigatoni)
Fresh basil
Spices: Dried oregano, thyme, red pepper flakes
Parmesan rind

Fire roasted tomatoes have the best flavor

You’ll notice that we often call for fire roasted tomatoes in our Italian recipes, most notably our best pizza sauce. And there used in this pasta e ceci soup. Why? You can absolutely taste the difference. Fire roasted canned tomatoes have a sweet flavor right out of the can. So you don’t have to spend hours simmering your soup! It tastes great right away.

There are lots of brands of fire roasted tomatoes out there. If you can’t find them: just buy the best quality canned tomatoes you can find!

Why to add a Parmesan rind to soup!

This pasta e ceci is the first of our Italian soup recipes where we’ve called for a Parmesan rind. First off: what’s a Parmesan rind? It’s the actual rind off a block of Parmesan cheese. Buy it in the store in a block, and once you open it it’s good for about 6 weeks. Once you’ve shaved off all you can, you’re left with a hard rind of cheese.

The Italians are always inventing great ways to use up things, like stale bread in ribollita (bread soup) or panzanella (bread salad). So of course they had the idea to throw a Parmesan rind into soup! Simmering a soup with a Parmesan rind makes for a rich and creamy broth. The amount of flavor from simmering a dried up rind is incredible!

Substitute for a Parmesan rind in soup

If you don’t have a Parmesan rind laying around (which we often don’t!), here’s a substitute: add grated or shredded Parmesan cheese right to the soup broth. The only drawback with this method is that you’ll have some stringy Parmesan cheese stuck to the bottom of the soup pot after simmering. It’s to be expected: simply discard it when serving.

What to serve with pasta e ceci

Once you’ve simmered up a pot of this pasta e ceci, you’ll be amazed at the tangy, creamy and herby flavor of the broth! The pasta soaks up the broth too, making it more like dumplings than al dente pasta. It’s truly an Italian masterpiece. Here a few ideas for serving to make for the perfect vegetarian Italian meal:

Italian style salad. Try our Easy Arugula Salad (so easy!), Fennel Orange Salad (elegant and refreshing), or Favorite Chopped Salad (classic).
Bread or garlic bread. Of course an artisan bread like Knead Bread or Artisan Bread would be fantastic, or any crusty artisan loaf. Or try our easy Garlic Toast: it’s so full of garlicky flavor!
Italian style appetizer. This Eggplant Caponata would make an impressive meal for a dinner party. Or simply a cheese plate or olives would round out a simple lunch.

More Italian soup recipes

Italian-style soups are bursting with flavor and so satisfying! They’re one of our favorite ways to make a filling vegetarian or vegan dinner. Here are some of our best Italian soup recipes:

Italian Vegetable Soup with Gnocchi Full of flavor, vegetables, and pillowy dumplings.
Easy Tomato Basil Soup A classic! Tangy with herbaceous basil.
Tuscan Lentil Stew Hearty and healthy, packed with lentils and Tuscan kale.
Tuscan Soup with White Beans We call it “pizza soup” because it tastes like pizza!

This pasta e ceci recipe is…

Vegetarian. For vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free, omit the Parmesan cheese.