21. Minestrone

I couldn’t find ditalini pasta this time around, so went for macaroni. Canned borlotti beans are an okay way to save time if you need to. The vegetables listed are just a suggestion, and you should try making minestrone with whatever vegetables are looking good or in season. Any leafy green, like spinach, or cavolo nero, would work well instead of chard.

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Step 1

Soak the borlotti beans, for 6-8 hours or overnight if possible.

Step 2

In a large, heavy pot, add oil, onion, garlic, celery and carrot and sweat. You can chop the rest of the ingredients as you’re going and add them bit by bit. My suggestion would be to add the stock, herbs, then beans, tomatoes, zucchini, potato, then chard. Leave the pasta until last, just before you’re about to eat.

Step 3

Test for seasoning - add salt and pepper generously as required. Then cook the pasta in the soup, usually for about 3 minutes longer than indicated on the packaging.

Step 4

Fish out the rosemary and bay leaves if you can find them, and serve as is.