Katzens Minestrone Vegetarian Food

THE BEST MINESTRONE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a Dutch oven or large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add the pancetta and cook, stirring occasionally, until the fat has rendered and the meat is golden brown on all sides, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer the pancetta with a slotted spoon to a large bowl, leaving the fat in the pot.
• Reduce the heat to medium. Add the carrots, celery, onions, garlic, bay leaves, red pepper flakes, 4 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender but not browned, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the potatoes and zucchini and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly softened, about 5 minutes. Return the pancetta to the pot, stir in the tomatoes and 8 cups water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes are just tender, about 20 minutes.
• Add the kale, beans and their liquid and pasta and continue to cook until the pasta is cooked through and the kale is tender, about 10 minutes. Discard the bay leaves and season with more salt and pepper if necessary. Serve with grated Parmesan.

KATZEN'S MINESTRONE (VEGETARIAN)

Steps:

• Part One: The Broth.
• Remove the papery skins from the garlic heads and break them into cloves.
• Whack the cloves with the broad side of a wide knife.
• Combine everything up to and including the thyme in a large pot and bring to a boil.
• Cover, lower the heat, and simmer for an hour.
• Strain the stock and use right away, or refrigerate in a sealed container for up to four days, or freeze up to six months.
• Part Two: The Soup.
• Sauté onions in oil, until they are starting to soften.
• Add carrots, peppers, zucchini, garlic, basil, oregano, chili flakes, and turn down to medium-low and cover, stirring frequently, until the veggies start to soften a bit.
• Add diced tomatoes and broth, and season with salt and pepper.
• Bring to a simmer, cover, and allow to cook for 45 minutes or so.
• Add drained and rinsed beans.
• Add pasta, and cool immediately or pasta will start to break down and fall apart.

HEARTY VEGETARIAN MINESTRONE

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and cook until soft, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add carrots and celery; cook and stir until soft, 5 to 6 minutes.
• Stir in green beans, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper; cook for about 5 minutes. Add diced and crushed tomatoes and vegetable broth; bring to a boil. If it looks too thick, add a bit of water.
• Reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes. Stir in kidney beans, cannellini beans, and macaroni; cook until pasta is tender yet firm to the bite, 7 to 10 minutes. Taste and adjust salt and pepper, if needed.
• Ladle into bowls and garnish with Parmesan-style cheese and fresh basil.

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.

KARI'S VEGETARIAN MINESTRONE

Steps:

• Saute oil and garlic in a large pot over medium-low heat until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add onion and saute for 2 to 3 minutes. Add carrots and saute for 3 minutes, followed by zucchini, mushrooms, and finally potato. Add more oil if necessary.
• Stir in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and spinach; cook for 3 minutes. Stir in vegetable broth, water, kidney beans, basil, oregano, thyme, cayenne, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 1 hour; the more simmer time the better.