240 g of cannellini beans
1 onion finely chopped
2 cloves of garlic minced
1 to 2 tablespoons of butter or margarine
1/2 kg of cured pork, cut into small cubes
2 liters of water or beef broth
1 bouquet garni (parsley, chives, thyme)
1/2 teaspoon of chopped parsley
2 medium-sized carrots, cut into small cubes
1 cup of cooked peas or 1 can of peas drained
1 small head of cabbage grated
180 g of peeled and chopped tomatoes or 2 medium-sized tomatoes
90 g of chopped celery
4 tablespoons of rice or macaroni for soup
salt and black pepper to taste
1 tablespoon of fresh chives, minced, or 1/2 teaspoon of dried thyme and Parmesan cheese grated
240 g of cannellini beans
1 onion finely chopped
2 cloves of garlic minced
1 to 2 tablespoons of butter or margarine
1/2 kg of cured pork, cut into small cubes
2 liters of water or beef broth
1 bouquet garni (parsley, chives, thyme)
1/2 teaspoon of chopped parsley
2 medium-sized carrots, cut into small cubes
1 cup of cooked peas or 1 can of peas drained
1 small head of cabbage grated
180 g of peeled and chopped tomatoes or 2 medium-sized tomatoes
90 g of chopped celery
4 tablespoons of rice or macaroni for soup
salt and black pepper to taste
1 tablespoon of fresh chives, minced, or 1/2 teaspoon of dried thyme and Parmesan cheese grated
Let the beans soak overnight
In a large pot, sauté the onion and garlic in butter or margarine
Add the cured pork, water or beef broth, and bouquet garni
Bring to a boil and add the drained beans
Simmer covered, over low heat, for 1 1/2 hours
Add the parsley, carrots, and peas (if using canned peas, add them last), and simmer for 20 minutes
Add the cabbage, tomatoes, celery, and rice or macaroni, and simmer for an additional 15 to 20 minutes
If using macaroni, cook until al dente
Remove the bouquet garni, season with salt and black pepper, add the chives, and serve with grated Parmesan cheese
Serves 4 to 6 portions
Note: Minestrone is a globally famous soup with an infinite variety of variations
The basic ingredients, however, are cured pork or prosciutto
An enormous variety of vegetables and pasta can be added to minestrone, but it must always be served with grated Parmesan cheese.
