Minestrone

Name: Minestrone
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 50 min
Cuisine: European, Italian, Mediterranean
Ingredients: 4 sprigs fresh flat-leaf parsley, leaves only; 1 sprig fresh basil, leaves only (optional); 1 brown onion, cut into halves; 3 garlic cloves; 50 g olive oil; 400 g canned chopped tomatoes; 2 tsp Vegetable stock paste (see Tips); 650 g water; 50 g tomato paste; ½ tsp salt (optional); 400 g mixed vegetables (e.g. potato, carrot, mushroom, celery), diced or cut into pieces (see Tips); 400 g canned borlotti beans, rinsed and drained (approx. 250 g after draining); 100 g dried pasta shells