Early autumn minestrone (Minestrone d'inizio autunno)

Name: Early autumn minestrone (Minestrone d'inizio autunno)
Cook time: 1 h 5 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 200 g cannellini or borlotti beans fresh or dried and soaked overnight; 1 bay leaf; 1 tomato squashed; 1 small potato peeled; sea salt; freshly ground black pepper; olive oil; 4 rashers higher-welfare smoked pancetta or bacon; 2 small red onions peeled and finely chopped; 2 carrots peeled and chopped; 2 sticks celery trimmed and chopped; ½ head fennel chopped; 3 cloves garlic peeled and finely chopped; 1 small bunch fresh basil leaves and stalks separated; 2x400 g good-quality tinned plum tomatoes; 1 glass red wine; 2 small courgettes quartered and sliced; 200 g chard or spinach washed and roughly sliced (including stalks); 565 ml organic chicken, ham or vegetable stock; 55 g dried pasta; 1 block Parmesan cheese to serve