Mom would alternate chickpeas, peas white, or red beans whatever we had in the house back in the 1960s when money was tight and we were on a strict budget.
I love the sauce this made and how it clings to the pasta plus she would add any leftover meats from Sunday dinner that was in our Traditional Meat Sauce.
Comfort food all the way and so economical to feed a large family mom even soaked the chickpeas overnight or in a slow cooker to soften from dried beans.
If you are looking for an authentic style Italian dish that's super easy to make, this one will be a new favorite in your recipe collection.
I love the sausage combined with the sauce to make this hearty.
Depression Foods
Grandma and mom called this depression food, it fed a large family and was very inexpensive to make, most of the time meat was left out.
As time went on we adapted the same recipe using any kind of pasta shape, any kind of beans and it was simple, delicious, and satisfying.
Reminds me of a Homemade Hamburger Helper except much tastier and you know what in it!
We also love making her Italian-style Merlot Chili.
As a treat, Mom always made homemade pasta and her orecchiette by hand homemade really made this dish special.
More Recipes We Love
Mom's Homemade Italian Sausage Recipe
Pasta and Broccoli Aioli
Homemade Orecchiette
Ingredients You Will Need and below are the exact measurements in the printable recipe card
- small can of tomato paste
- minced garlic
- granulated garlic powder
- extra virgin olive oil
- Italian herbs parsley and basil fresh is best
- cayenne, salt, and pepper to taste
- loose Italian hot or sweet sausage 1/2 pound
- orecchiette pasta cooked and drained to package instructions
- chickpeas
- chicken broth
- merlot wine
- grated cheese
Pasta Favorites with Beans
This is a basic soup/stoup recipe and really any beans or pasta can be substituted for chickpeas and orecchiette.
This pasta is also known as "little ears" was a favorite of ours and we all love it as a child.
Mom would make the pasta from scratch and we always looked forward to this meal.
Chickpeas and Orecchiette Recipe
Yield: 12
Prep time: 15 MinCook time: 1 HourTotal time: 1 H & 15 M
This is an all-in-one-pan economical meal with pasta, loose sausage, and sauce. Delicious Italian food and you can use any loose meat you prefer!
Ingredients
- 1 small can of tomato paste
- 3 cloves minced garlic
- 2 cans of rinsed chickpeas (around 3 cups)
- 3 or 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- 4 fresh basil leaves
- cayenne, salt, and pepper to taste
- 1/2 pound loose Italian hot or sweet sausage around 1/2 pound sliced
- 1/2 pound Fresh homemade orecchiette pasta cooked and drained or make store-bought to package instructions and drain
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic powder
- 3 cups or more fresh cooked or canned chickpeas
- 4 cups of chicken broth I make mine and freeze it till needed or water
- 1/2 cup merlot wine
- 1/2 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, add around 1/4 cup olive oil, garlic and tomato paste saute for a minute stirring frequently.
- Add the chicken broth or water then the wine.
- Add the loose slices of sausage raw into the pot, herbs, chickpeas salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper to taste.
- After the sauce simmers for around 1 hour and gets thicker (most of the liquid will boil away) so add more broth or water to get the desired consistency you like.
- Boil the pasta to package instructions then add the drained pasta and grated cheese to the pot.
- Serve with more grated cheese on top.
More Recipes We Love
Pepperoni Pizza Pasta
Chicken Bacon Spinach Pasta
Chili Mac
Hot Dog Chili