Low-Fat Low Cal Crock Pot Pasta Fagioli

• sweet Italian turkey sausage↗1 lb

  bulk or removed from casings

• medium onion, diced small↗1
• dried great northern beans or 1 cup cranberry beans↗1 cup
• large carrots, sliced 1/4 inch thick↗3
• small shell pasta (shells or ditalini)↗2 cups
• tomato paste↗1 can

  6 ounce

• crushed tomatoes↗1 can

  28 ounce

• vegetable broth↗3 -4 cups

  I use fat free

• beef bouillon cubes↗2

  or vegetable

• italian seasoning↗1 teaspoon
• salt↗1 teaspoon
• dried parsley↗1 teaspoon
• freshly grated parmesan cheese

  to garnish

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Soak beans overnight.

2. 2

   In the morning (or do this step the night before) brown the turkey sausage and the diced onion.

3. 3

   Drain and rinse and put in the crock pot.

4. 4

   Add the broth, beans, carrot, herbs, salt& pepper and crushed tomatoes.

5. 5

   Cook on low for 9 hours.

6. 6

   Half hour before you think it is done, bring a pot of water to boil and cook the pasta to al dente.

7. 7

   Drain and rinse to cut down on the starch in your soup.

8. 8

   Stir the tomato paste into the crock pot and then fold in the pasta.

9. 9

   Cook for another 1/2 hour.

10. 10

    Serve in nice bowls with a topping of freshly grated Parmesan and maybe a sprig of basil.

11. 11

    ENJOY!