Smoked Chicken Minestrone Food

GNOCCHI CHICKEN MINESTRONE

Steps:

• Sprinkle chicken with oregano, salt and pepper. In a Dutch oven, saute chicken in 1 tablespoon oil until no longer pink. Remove from the pan and set aside., In the same pan, cook the peppers, zucchini, mushrooms and onion in remaining oil until tender. Add prosciutto and garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Add the broth, tomatoes, beans, peas, tomato paste and chicken. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally., Meanwhile, cook gnocchi according to package directions. Drain; stir into soup. Garnish each serving with cheese and basil.

SMOKED PULLED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Combine yogurt, garlic, lemon juice, pepper, salt, paprika, and cumin in an extra-large zip-top bag. Add chicken halves, making sure they are completely coated. Squeeze out excess air, seal the bag, and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours.
• Thirty minutes before cooking, soak the wood chips in water. Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Sprinkle the soaked wood chips directly over the hot coals. Remove chicken from the marinade and shake off excess. Place chicken, skin-side down, on the hot side of the preheated grill. Discard the remaining marinade.
• Cook chicken until grill marks form, about 4 minutes. Flip and transfer to the cooler side of the grill. Cover and cook, occasionally rotating 180 degrees, until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the thigh reads 175 degrees F (79 degrees C), about 45 minutes.
• Transfer chicken to a cutting board and let rest for 10 minutes. Remove and discard skin. Pick all meat from the bones and shred it using 2 forks.

SOUTHERN MINESTRONE

Steps:

• In a large, heavy-bottomed Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onions, carrot, and celery and cook until the onions are golden, 10 to 12 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, 45 to 60 seconds. Add 4 cups of the water, the cabbage, and the cheese rind. Season the mixture with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil over high heat, and then decrease the heat to low. Simmer until the mixture is flavorful and well combined, about 30 minutes.
• Add the tomatoes, green beans, okra, yellow squash, zucchini, parsley, basil, and red pepper flakes. Add more of the remaining water to cover by about 1 inch. Continue to simmer slowly over very low heat until the vegetables are just tender, an additional 20 minutes. Add the pasta, and more water, if needed. Simmer until the pasta is tender, an additional 10 to 15 minutes. Taste and adjust for seasoning with salt and pepper.
• To serve, ladle the soup into warmed bowls. Drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil and sprinkle with grated cheese.
• parmigiano-reggiano
• Parmigiano-Reggiano is a hard, dry cheese made from cow's milk. The rind is golden tan and the interior is creamy yellow. True Parmigiano-Reggiano from Italy is aged eighteen to thirty-six months and is sharp and rich in flavor with a salty kick. While other countries make Parmesan cheese, real Italian Parmigiano- Reggiano is more expensive and is well worth every dime. Look for "Parmigiano-Reggiano" stenciled on the rind to authenticate the origin.

WINTER MINESTRONE VERY DELICIOUS AND HARDY!

Steps:

• In 5- to 6-quart pot, heat oil over medium heat. Remove and discard sausage casings; crumble sausage into pot; cook until lightly browned, stirring often. Add onion, carrot and celery; cook, stirring often, until onion is soft. Drain and discard any fat from sausage.
• Add beans, garlic, bell pepper, parsley, herbs, tomatoes (coarsely chopped) and their liquid, and broth. Bring to boil, cover, reduce heat, and simmer gently 30 minutes.
• Stir in wine and pasta and simmer gently, uncovered, until pasta is tender (10 to 12 minutes). Add spinach or Swiss chard, stirring just until it is wilted. Taste; add salt if needed.
• Serve with Parmesan cheese to sprinkle over each serving to taste. Makes.