Marvelous Minestrone
“Here is soup for the soul–thick and hearty with a little bit of kick from the black pepper. Make a pot of this soup when you need to turn a bad day around.”
Marvelous Minestrone
From Rolling Prairie Cookbook
Serves 8 people
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 to 6 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
1 large oinion, chopped
2 medium carrots, chopped
4 to 5 stalks celery, chopped
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
4 to 6 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped (or 2 teaspoons dried)
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
3 1/2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons honey or brown sugar
5 to 7 cups water or stock (up to 1 cup red wine may be used as part of the liquid)
4 medium-sized fresh tomatoes, diced ( or 1 1/2 cups canned diced tomatoes)
1 1/2 cups green beans, cut or snapped into 1-inch pieces
2 cups cooked kidney beans, rinsed and drained
4 ounces broken spaghetti, cooked
Method:
Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add the garlic, onion, carrots, celery, parsley, basil, and oregano and sauté several minutes, until fragrant.
Add pepper, salt, vinegar, sweetener, water or stock, tomatoes, and green beans. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer until vegetables are tender but not falling apart, approximately 30 minutes.
Add the kidney beans and cooked pasta and heat through. If the soup is too thick at this point, add more water, stock, or red wine to thin it.
Serve with freshly grated Parmesan or Asiago cheese, crusty French bread, and a crisp green salad–an excellent meal to share with friends.
Nutritional information per serving, 8 servings per recipe. Calories: 213. Protein: 7g. Total fat: 3.7g (sat fat: <1g). Carbohydrates: 37g. Cholesterol: 0mg. Sodium: 297mg. Vitamin A: 55%. Vitamin C: 23% DV.