Classic Italian Minestrone (Soupe Paysanne)
Per serving
Minestra Ingredients Directions Makes 8 servings This is a classic minestrone recipe. Classic minestrone always contains Swiss chard and red kidney beans. The other ingredients are optional, and are a matter of personal taste or choice. Zucchine, summer squash, broccoli, and cauliflower, just to name a few, work well in this recipe. I learned to love greens as a child. When school was out during the summer, I spent two weeks with my grandparents in the country. My grandmother was a former professional cook, and my grandfather always raised a large garden. There was always vegetables galore to choose from. Kale was my favorite. Kale and Swiss chard are in the same family of greens so when I saw a recipe with Swiss chard in it, I immediately decided to make it. I also kept the kidney beans f…
Ingredients
29 serv.- pork fat↗1⁄4 lb
chopped
- boiling potatoes2 lbs
peeled and diced
- green cabbage↗1
cored and chopped (about 1 1/ 2 pounds)
- swiss chard leaf↗3⁄4 lb
no white part,chopped
- red onion↗1
medium, chopped
- garlic↗2
cloves, finely chopped
- water↗6 cups
- red kidney beans↗2
cans (drained and well rinsed)
- ham hock↗1
split longways into four equal pieces (about 1/ 2 pound)
- large tomatoes↗1
peeled,seeded and chopped (about 10 ounces)
- elbow macaroni↗1⁄4 lb
- salt↗1 tablespoon
- black pepper↗
fresh ground
- extra virgin olive oil↗
for drizzling
Step-by-step instructions
- 1
In a large casserole or soup pot, cook the pork fat over medium-high heat until there is some fat in the bottom of the pot, about 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
- 2
Then add the potatoes, cabbage, chard, onion, and garlic until the greens are wilted, about 5 minutes.
- 3
Pour in the water, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, add the beans, ham or smoked bacon, and tomato, and cook until the beans are tender, 2 to 3 hours.
- 4
Add the elbow macaroni and continue to cook until a spoon can stand straight up in the center of the soup, and the pasta is tender--about 15 minutes.
- 5
Season with salt and pepper, drizzle with olive oil, and serve.
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