minestrone soup

[tony4away]

looking for learntojive can i take you up on that offer for jamie olivers minestrone soup still no joy looking for a good recipe.if anyone can help i would be grateful.Tony

[Jugglering]

Hi Tony

Here's the recipe for you:-

http://www.shape.com/recipes/6224

[learntojive]

Hi Tony
First time I've been on here for ages so that was good timing!
That one posted by jugglering looks like a variation on the recipe so here's the one I use from his Italian book - then you can try them both.
I chop all the vegetables in my food processor so it makes light work of it. I also add 2 chopped leeks (like to try and get the kids to eat as much veg as possible) which aren't in the original recipe. If I make it for my vegetarian daughter I miss out the bacon and use vegetable stock instead of chicken, it's still nice but maybe not quite as tasty. Don't be tempted to leave the spinach out either, my daughter hates it and didn't even notice it was there.

olive oil
4 rashers smoked bacon
2 red onions - chopped
2 carrots - chopped
2 leeks - chopped
2 sticks celery - chopped
head of fennel - chopped
3 cloves garlic - chopped
bunch fresh basil - chopped (use stalks as well)
2 tins good plum tomatoes
glass red wine
2 courgettes - chopped
7 oz spinach
2.5 pints chicken stock
tin cannellini beans - drained
2 oz tiny pasta

Cook bacon, onion, celery, carrots, leeks, fennel, garlic and basil in some olive oil gently for about 20 mins.
Add tomatoes, wine and courgettes then simmer 15 mins.
Add spinach, stock, beans and pasta and simmer until cooked.
Season and add more stock if too thick.
Serve with parmesan cheese sprinkled on top.

Makes a great big pan full, heats up well in the microwave and also freezes fine.

Let me know if you make it!
Anne