Rich Italian Minestrone Recipe
Ingredients
| 1/4 pound dried beans white, pink, or red kidney | ||
| Olive oil | 3 Tablespoon | |
| 2 small onions, chopped coarse | ||
| 2 slices bacon, 1-inch pieces | ||
| 2 cloves garlic, chopped fine | ||
| Dried marjoram | 1/2 Teaspoon | |
| Dried basil | 1/2 Teaspoon | |
| Dried thyme | 1/2 Teaspoon | |
| 4 fresh tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and chopped; or 1 1/2 cups chopped canned Italian plum tomatoes | ||
| Red wine | 1 Cup (16 tbs) | |
| 2 large carrots, in 1/2-inch pieces | ||
| 1 small turnip, 1/2-inch cubes | ||
| 1 stalk celery, 1/2-inch pieces | ||
| 1/2 small cabbage, in 1/2 by 2-inch julienne pieces | ||
| Pasta shells | 2 Ounce | |
| Salt | To Taste | |
| black pepper | 1 | |
| Parmesan cheese | 1 Cup (16 tbs), grated | |
Directions
1. Soak the beans in water to cover overnight and drain just before adding to the soup.
2. On the next day, heat the oil in a large souppot and saute the onions and bacon. Add the garlic, marjoram, basil, and thyme and cook until the garlic just begins to turn color. Add the tomatoes and pour in the red wine. Let mixture come to a boil and add the drained beans.
3. Add 3 pints of hot water to the souppot, bring to a boil, turn down the heat, and let simmer steadily for 2 hours.
4. Add carrots to the pot and, 15 minutes later, add the turnips. Five minutes before serving, add the celery, cabbage, and pasta. Add salt and pepper and stir in 2 tablespoons of parmesan cheese.
2. On the next day, heat the oil in a large souppot and saute the onions and bacon. Add the garlic, marjoram, basil, and thyme and cook until the garlic just begins to turn color. Add the tomatoes and pour in the red wine. Let mixture come to a boil and add the drained beans.
3. Add 3 pints of hot water to the souppot, bring to a boil, turn down the heat, and let simmer steadily for 2 hours.
4. Add carrots to the pot and, 15 minutes later, add the turnips. Five minutes before serving, add the celery, cabbage, and pasta. Add salt and pepper and stir in 2 tablespoons of parmesan cheese.
Chef
