What other veg would work?
This is really meant to be a recipe you can make your own and use what you have in the fridge, or what you like the best. I love the addition of sweet potato, or potato so would recommend adding that. Swap Cavolo Nero for spinach or kale. Add spring onions, Brussel sprouts, broccoli of any kind, cabbage, peppers…whatever you like. Butter beans or chickpeas07 would also work instead of cannellini beans but cannellini are my favourite all round bean, they are delicate and the texture is never mealy like a butter bean can be.

You can add meat if you like
You can add a little pancetta at the start of this recipe, just fry until golden and crispy and then carry on with the recipe as it’s written. Or sausage which you would crumble and then cook in the same way as the pancetta. Chorizo would add a lovely smokiness. Or finish it off with the addition of some shredded roast chicken for some added protein.

Pasta
I really do mean you can use whatever pasta you like, just make it small - no bigger than the cannellini beans. Or go for pasta Misti style and use a combination of left over pasta you have knocking around.