Cook the pasta according to the instructions. Drain and rinse with cold water. Keep covered until ready to use so it does not dry out.
Cube the meat into small cubes. In a dutch oven, heat oil. Once hot add meat, cook about 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, finely chop the onions. Finely dice tomatoes. Cube carrots and peppers into even sizes. Cube potatoes into small cubes.
Add onions to the meat in the Dutch oven. Turn heat down to medium heat, cook until onions are tender.
Add tomatoes and garlic, cook 2 minutes, stirring as needed.
Add potatoes, carrots, peppers and mix well.
Pour in water, seasonings and bay leaves, star anise and cook about 20-25 minutes, until all of the vegetables are tender. Remove star anise once the soup is cooked.
Add boiling water to the pasta to reheat it, drain the water.
Add pasta to a bowl, then add the hearty soup, serve and enjoy.