Pasta with Red Beans and Ham

Total time: 30 minutes
     Beans are a major vegetable in both France and Spain, but are normally sold plain, rarely flavored or spiced.  Frying the chili powder releases more of the flavor.

 Ingredients:

• 1 cup (3.3oz, 95gr) dried pasta, penne, rigatoni
• 1 onion
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1 rib celery
• 1/2 green bell pepper
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 15oz (450gr) whole tomatoes
• 4oz (120gr) dry-cured ham, Prosciutto, Serrano or 8oz (240gr) deli or baked ham
• 15oz (450gr) red kidney beans
• 4oz (120gr) chopped green chilies
• 1 tbs chili powder
• 1 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 1 1/2 tsp dried basil
• 2 bay leaves, fresh or dried
• few drops hot pepper sauce   optional

 Instructions:

• Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain.
• Chop onion, celery and pepper.
• Finely chop garlic. 
• Trim ham and cut into bite-size pieces.
• Drain and rinse the beans.
• Drain the tomatoes, reserving the juice, then roughly chop.
• Heat oil in large, nonstick skillet over medium heat.   Add chili powder and sauté 1 minute.
• Add onion, celery, pepper, garlic and sauté 7 - 8 minutes.
• Add ham and sauté briefly.
• Add beans, tomatoes, juices, herbs and hot pepper sauce if using.
• Cover and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes.
• Add green chilies and simmer 5 minutes longer.
• Taste, adjust heat, remove bay leaves, add to pasta and toss well.  Serve.