Classic Minestrone For The Slow Cooker Food

SLOW COOKER MINESTRONE SOUP

Steps:

• In a slow cooker, add diced tomatoes, tomato paste, parmesan cheese, vegetable broth, water, carrots, celery, onions, garlic, ginger, oregano, rosemary, Italian seasoning, bay leaf, salt and pepper.
• Cook on Low heat for 6-8 hours or High heat for 3-4 hours.
• Add red kidney beans, Northern beans, zucchini, pasta and cook on High heat for an additional 20- 25 minutes until pasta is tender.
• Stir in the spinach, green beans and cook for an additional 10 minutes until cooked through. Enjoy!

SLOW-COOKER MINESTRONE

Steps:

• Combine the first 13 ingredients in a 5- or 6-qt. slow cooker. Cook, covered, on low 6-8 hours or until vegetables are tender. Stir in beans, zucchini and pasta. Cook, covered, on high about 30 minutes longer, until pasta is tender. Discard bay leaves. If desired, top with grated Parmesan cheese. Freeze option: Freeze cooled soup in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a saucepan, stirring occasionally; add water if necessary.

CLASSIC MINESTRONE

Steps:

• In a casserole heat the olive oil. Add the onions and cook until golden, about 5 to 7 minutes. Then add the carrots and celery and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Add the beans, bay leaf and thyme and toss for 1 minute. Then add the beef stock, Parmesan rind (if using), plum tomatoes and their juice, and salt and pepper to taste. (Careful with the amount of salt since Parmesan rind will add a salty flavor.) Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour. Add the potatoes, zucchini and savoy cabbage and cook for 20 minutes more or until the vegetables are tender. Finally, add your pasta and cook, covered, for about 10 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper, ladle into bowls and serve with some pesto.

SLOW-COOKER PESTO MINESTRONE

Steps:

• Toss the carrots, leeks, potatoes and fennel with the olive oil in a 6- to 8-quart slow cooker. Add 5 cups water, the tomatoes, parmesan rind, 2 tablespoons pesto, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Cover and cook on high until the vegetables are tender, 7 to 8 hours.
• Uncover and stir in the beans and ditalini. Cover and continue cooking on high until the pasta is al dente, about 15 minutes. Remove the parmesan rind. Stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon pesto and season with salt and pepper. Top each serving with more pesto, the parmesan and fennel fronds. Serve with the focaccia.

CLASSIC MINESTRONE SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large saucepan or casserole pot over a low-medium heat and gently fry the onion, celery, carrot, courgette and pancetta for 10 mins. Add the garlic and oregano, and cook for 1 min. Tip in the beans, chopped tomatoes, purée, stock and bay leaf. Season to taste. Bring to the simmer and cook for 30 mins.
• Add the pasta and greens, and cook for a further 10 mins. Ladle into bowls and scatter with the basil and some parmesan.

CLASSIC MINESTRONE FOR THE SLOW COOKER

Steps:

• Combine broth, carrots, celery, cabbage, onion, diced fennel, zucchini, summer squash, kidney beans, tomatoes, basil, salt, pepper and garlic in a 6 quart slow cooker.
• Cook minestrone on low-heat setting until vegetables are tender, about 6 hours.
• Turn slow cooker to high-heat setting, and add the macaroni. Cover and cook until macaroni is tender, 15-20 minute.
• To serve, stir parsley into soup; garnish each serving with Parmesan and basil.