Minestrone

Ingredients (serves 4)
200g canned beans
50g streaky bacon (diced)
1 large onion (minced)
2 cloves garlic (minced)
3 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp finely chopped rosemary
2 sticks celery (diced)
1 large carrot (diced)
2 medium potatoes (diced)
3 tbsp tomato puree
700ml canned chopped tomatoes
750ml stock (beef, chicken or vegetable)
150g pasta (alphabet or shell)
150g frozen peas

Directions
1 Heat oil in a pot and fry the bacon. Add onion and garlic and fry till fragrant. Add the chopped rosemary and fry till everything softens.
2 Add the celery, carrot, potato and tomato puree. Cook, stirring a few minutes till the raw smell is gone. Add the beans, chopped tomatoes and stock. Bring everything to a boil.
3 Reduce heat and simmer the soup for 1 1/2 hours. Check halfway and if soup is too think, add more stock.
4 Add the pasta and peas and simmer for another 10 to 15 minutes.
5 Adjust salt and pepper to taste.

tip!
Add shredded cabbage and corn kernels for more crunch. Freshly grated Parmesan or Romano cheese sprinkled over enhances the flavour.



Extracted from Simply Her / April 2005