William Pollock's Eat Happy: Classic Minestrone

Ingredients

3 Tbl	olive oil
1	large leek
1	carrots, chopped
1	zucchini, thinly sliced
4 oz	whole green beans, halved
2 stalks	celery, thinly sliced
6 cups	vegetable stock
1 can	tomatoes, chopped
1 Tbl	fresh basil, chopped
1 tsp	chopped fresh thyme leaves or 1/2 tsp dried
1 can	cannellini or kidney beans and canning fluid
1/2 cup	small pasta shapes or macaroni
	salt and pepper, to taste
	freshly grated parmesan cheese, optionally as a garnish
	fresh chopped parsley, as a garnish

Preparation

Put the olive oil, leek, carrots, zuchini, green beans, and celery together in a large saucepan. Heat until lightly frying and then sweat the vegetables for 15 minutes, stirring ocassionally.

Ad stock or water,tomatoes, basil and thyme and bring to a boil, smmering gently for 30 minutes. Add beans and their fluid (some would say liquor) to pot along with pasta and simmer for another 10 minutes. Salt and pepper to taste.

Serve garnished with parmesan cheese and parsley.

Primary Category:

Soup

Seconary Categories:

**New06
Italian
Vegetables