Jamies Minestrone Food

MINESTRONE SOUP

Steps:

• Put a large shallow casserole pan on a medium-high heat.
• Finely slice the bacon, if using, and sprinkle into the pan with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, stirring occasionally while you prep your veg.
• Peel and finely chop the garlic and onion, adding the garlic to the pan with the bay leaves as soon as the bacon turns golden, followed by the onions.
• Trim and chop the carrots and celery into rough 1cm dice, adding to the pan as you go. Remove and finely chop any tough stalks from your greens and add to the pan. Cook for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring regularly, or until softened and caramelised.
• Crumble in the stock cube, pour in the tinned tomatoes, breaking them up with your spoon, then add 1 tin's worth of water.
• Pour in the beans, juice and all, then add a pinch of sea salt and black pepper.
• Shred your greens and sprinkle into the pan, top up with 600ml of boiling kettle water, then add the pasta. Cover and leave to simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the pasta is just cooked and the soup has thickened to your liking.
• Season the soup to perfection, then serve it with a grating of Parmesan cheese and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. A sprinkling of fresh baby basil leaves will always be delicious, if you've got them, and my kids enjoy it with a dollop of pesto on top, too.

JAMIE'S MINESTRONE

Steps:

• In a large stock pot, over medium-low heat, heat olive oil and saute garlic for 2 to 3 minutes. Add onion and saute for 4 to 5 minutes. Add celery and carrots, saute for 1 to 2 minutes.
• Add chicken broth, water and tomato sauce, bring to boil, stirring frequently. If desired add red wine at this point. Reduce heat to low and add kidney beans, green beans, spinach leaves, zucchini, oregano, basil, salt and pepper. Simmer for 30 to 40 minutes, the longer the better.
• Fill a medium saucepan with water and bring to a boil. Add macaroni and cook until tender. Drain water and set aside.
• Once pasta is cooked and soup is heated through place 2 tablespoons cooked pasta into individual serving bowls. Ladle soup on top of pasta and sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top. Spray with olive oil and serve.

JAMIE'S MINESTRONE

Steps:

• Put the oil into a large pan and gently ccok the carrots, leeks, celery, onion, garlic and rosemary over a medium heat until just tender (about 15 minutes).
• Add the chopped tomatoes and cook for 1-2 minutes.
• Add the broth, bring to the boil and simmer for 15 minutes, skimming if necessary.
• Add cabbage, cover pan and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Add ripped basil and pasta and simmer for 5-10 minutes.
• Taste and season with salt and pepper.
• Serve with freshly grated parmesan.
• Note for vegetarian option omit the ham stock and use the vegetable stock/broth.

VEGETARIAN MINESTRONE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the onion, carrot, celery, garlic, salt, rosemary, black pepper and crushed red pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are just tender, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Stir in the broth, 2 cups water, the cannellini beans, tomatoes, zucchini and vinegar. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; reduce the heat to medium low and simmer until the zucchini is just tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in the collard greens and simmer until the greens are tender, about 2 minutes. Stir in the orzo. Season with salt. Top with the shredded parmesan.
• Photograph Courtesy of Time Inc. Books/Alison Miksch.