New Year's "Good Luck" Pasta Fazool

Ingredients

• 12 ounces bacon , sliced into 1-inch pieces
• 0.5 cups diced onion
• 0.5 cups diced celery
• 1 teaspoon salt , plus more to taste
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 0.5 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
• 0.25 teaspoons dried thyme
• 0.25 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper , or to taste
• 4 cloves garlic , finely minced
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup water
• 1 large bunch Swiss chard
• 1 , 15.5 ounce
• 1.25 cups orecchiette pasta
• 1 tablespoon freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano , Optional
• 1 drizzle olive oil , Optional
• 1 pinch red pepper flakes , Optional

Instructions

1. 1

   Heat a soup pot over medium heat. Add bacon; cook, stirring occasionally, until fat has mostly rendered and bacon begins to crisp, about 5 minutes. Drain off all but about 1 tablespoon drippings. Add onion, celery, and salt to the pot; sauté until softened and onion turns translucent, 5 to 7 minutes.

2. 2

   Stir in tomato paste, black pepper, dried oregano, dried thyme, and cayenne pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tomato paste starts to caramelize onto bottom of the pot, about 2 minutes. Add minced garlic; cook and stir, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in chicken broth and water; increase heat to high and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium; simmer while you prep Swiss chard.

3. 3

   Remove chard leaves from stems; discard stems. Gather a handful of leaves and slice in one direction; turn and slice in other direction. Repeat with remaining chard leaves; place into a bowl and fill with water. Swish leaves to remove dirt; transfer washed leaves to a colander, a handful at a time, to drain.

4. 4

   Add Swiss chard to the pot; simmer over medium heat until leaves become tender, about 10 minutes. Season with salt.

5. 5

   Stir in beans; increase heat to high and bring to a boil. Stir in pasta; reduce heat to medium-high. Cook until pasta is tender, 12 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

6. 6

   Taste; adjust seasonings. Top servings with Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, a drizzle of olive oil, and red pepper flakes.