Ingredients
1 1/2 cups dried beans, such as a combination of cannellini beans, chickpeas and borlotti beans
2 bay leaves, divided
Salt
3-4 pounds assorted tomatoes (coarsely chop larger tomatoes; leave small or cherry tomatoes whole. I use a mix of vine, Roma and cherry tomatoes.)
5-6 cloves garlic, 3-4 crushed, 2 chopped
3 tablespoons thyme, chopped
Pepper
Olive oil, about 5 tablespoons, divided
1 large bulb fennel, trimmed and chopped into small dice (1/4-1/2 inch)
1 onion, chopped
2 ribs celery with leafy tops, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
2-3 cups white cabbage, chopped
4 cups chicken stock (32 ounces)
1 rind Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, plus grated cheese to pass at table
1 1/2 cups dried pasta, such as ditalini or pennette
Directions
Soak the beans overnight in water or give them a quick soak by covering them with boiled water and letting them stand 1 hour. Rinse the beans and place in a pot, cover with water, add one bay leaf and bring to boil.
Salt the water and cook the beans to tender, 35-40 minutes. Puree half the beans with an immersion blender or in a food processor. Reserve the remaining beans, leaving them whole, plus 2 cups of their cooking liquid.
Meanwhile, pre-heat oven to 375°F. Place a rack in the center of the oven.
Scatter the tomatoes on a baking sheet along with crushed garlic cloves, thyme, salt and pepper. Coat with about 3 tablespoons of oil and toss to combine. Roast until the garlic is brown at the edges, the small tomatoes have burst and the chopped tomatoes have become saucy, 45 minutes to an hour. Transfer to large bowl and mash with wooden spoon or potato masher.
Add a few tablespoons olive oil, two turns of the pan, to a soup pot over medium to medium-high heat. Add the fennel, onion, celery, carrots, chopped garlic, cabbage, the remaining bay leaf, some salt and pepper, and stir for 8-10 minutes to soften a bit. Add the stock, cheese rind, whole beans and their cooking liquid, the pureed beans and tomatoes. Simmer the soup gently to combine flavors, adding water if the soup is too thick.
Just before serving, cook small cut pasta in salted water to al dente. Keep it separate from the soup so it does not overcook in the broth.
To serve, place a little pasta in each bowl, top with soup and sprinkle with cheese.