Noodles and Beans with Ham bone (Veneto)

Pasta

Ingredients

Dried white (Haricot) beans- 2 cups

Fresh pork skin- 1/2 pound

Ham bone- 1

Onion, finely chopped- 1

Carrot, finely chopped- 1

Celery, finely chopped- 1 stalk

Olive oil- 4 tbsps

Salt

Ribbon noodles or spaghetti- 1/2 pound

Pepper

Grated parmesan cheese

Soak the beans overnight or for several hours. Cut the pork skin into pieces. Put the beans, pork skin, ham bone, onion, carrot, celery and 2 1/2 tbsps of oil into a large pan and cover with water. Season with salt and cook slowly for 2 1/2 hours. Discard the ham bone.

Take about half the beans form the pan and rub them through a fine sieve. Return the bean puree to the pan and bring the soup back to a boil. Add the noodles and cook over a good heat or until just tender. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and stir in the remaining oil. Pour into soup bowls, leave to cool (this dish is served warm, not hot) and sprinkle lightly with parmesan cheese before serving.

Serves 6.