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Genoese Minestrone

2009 Souper Select Wine Guild

3 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, minced
2 celery stalks, minced
5 oz. thin green beans, cut into 2" length
1 zucchini, finely sliced
1 potato, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1/4 savoy cabbage, shredded
1 small eggplant, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
7 oz. can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
2 Italian plum tomatoes, chopped
1 1/4 quarts vegetable stock
3 1/2 oz. spaghetti

Pesto:
20 fresh basil leaves
1 garlic clove
2 teaspoons pine nuts
1 tablespoon freshly grated parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon freshly grated pecorino cheese
2 tablespoons olive oil

Heat 3 tablespoons of oil in a large saucepan.  Add the onion, celery, and carrot.  Cook over low heat for 5-7 minutes.

Raise the heat to medium and add green beans, zucchini, potato, and savoy cabbage. Cook, stir constantly for about 3 minutes.

Add eggplant, cannellini beans, and tomatoes.  Cook, stirring for 2-3 minutes.

Add stock, salt, and pepper.  Bring to a boil.  Stir well, cover, set heat to low, and simmer for 40 minutes.  Stir occasionally.

While soup is simmering, make the pesto.

Place all the pesto ingredients into a food processor and process until smooth.  If needed , add a little water if the pesto seems too thick.

Break pasta into small pieces and add to soup.  Add the pesto. Simmer and stir for about 5 minutes until pasta is al dente. (If you aren't planning on finishing the soup at one sitting, you might want to make the pasta separately and add to the  bowls of soup.  That way the pasta won't turn mushy for those tasty leftover days)