Minestrone (Italian Recipe)

Minestrone con Pasta
An Italian recipe common in the Mediterranean coast line and Milan.

Ingredients:
2 cups dried haricot beans
2 tbsp olive oil
2 oz smoked diced pancetta or streaky bacon
2 sliced large onions
2 crushed cloves of garlic
2 diced medium carrots
3 sliced celery sticks
14 oz canned chopped tomatoes
10 cups beef stock
12 oz diced potatoes
1 1/2 cups small pasta shapes (macaroni, stars, shells, etc.)
8 oz thinly sliced green cabbage
6 oz finely sliced green beans
1 cup frozen peas
3 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
salt
freshly ground black pepper
freshly grated Parmesan cheese, to serve

Procedure:
1. Cover the beans with cold water. Soak overnight.
2. Heat the oil in a large saucepan. Add the pancetta or bacon, onions and garlic. Cook gently while stirring occasionally for 5 minutes until soft.
3. Add carrots and celery. Cook for 2-3 minutes, until tender.
4. Drain the haricot beans. Add to the pan with the tomatoes and stock. Simmer for 2-2 1/2 hours until the beans are tender.
5. Add the potatoes.
6. Add the pasta shapes, sliced cabbage, green beans, peas and chopped parsley to the soup 15 minutes before it is ready. Season the soup to taste. The soup should have a fairly thick consistency. Top with generous amounts of grated Parmesan cheese when serving.

Serves 8

:)