Antipasti recipes - Minestrone
 

Minestrone is an italian soup made of fresh seasonal vegetables, although there is no definite recipe, because it is generally made with whichever vegetables are currently in season. One popular recipe, however, is as follows.

Ingredients

• One large, thinly sliced leek
• Two chopped carrots
• One zucchini, thinly sliced
• 0.75 cups halved green beans
• Two thinly sliced celery stalks
• Three tablespoons olive oil
• 6.25 vegetable stock or water
• One 14 oz. can chopped tomatoes
• One tablespoon chopped fresh basil
• One teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
• One 14 oz. can cannelini beans or kidney beans
• Two oz. macaroni
• Salt and pepper
• Finely grated parmesan cheese
• Fresh parsley

Directions

• Place first six ingredients into a large saucepan and heat until sizzling
• Cover, lower the heat, and sweat the vegetables for 15 minutes
• Add the stock or water, tomatoes, herbs, and seasoning
• Boil, replace lid, and simmer on low for half an hour
• Add caned beans and liquid to pasta and let cook for ten minutes
• Sprinkle with parmesan and parsley, let cool, serve