Minestrone

Name: Minestrone
Ingredients: canola oil or olive oil, for cooking; 1 garlic clove, minced; 14 lb pancetta or 14 lb bacon, diced; 4 cups chicken stock or 4 cups vegetable stock; 14 ounces whole tomatoes or 14 ounces diced tomatoes or 2 large tomatoes, diced; 2 medium red potatoes (peeling optional) or 2 medium yukon gold potatoes (peeling optional); 1 carrot, cut in half lengthwise; 1 large zucchini, diced; 14 lb green beans, cut into bite-sized pieces; 2 cups beans (any kind, cooked or a 19 oz can, rinsed and drained); 1 head napa cabbage (small head, thinly sliced) or 1 head savoy cabbage (small head, thinly sliced) or 1 head bok choy (small head, thinly sliced); 13 cup pesto sauce (plus more for the table); 1 cup dry pasta, cooked about 3 minutes less than package indicates; salt; pepper

15 ingredients

6 steps

Ingredients

canola oil or olive oil, for cooking
1 garlic clove, minced
14 lb pancetta or 14 lb bacon, diced
4 cups chicken stock or 4 cups vegetable stock
14 ounces whole tomatoes or 14 ounces diced tomatoes or 2 large tomatoes, diced
2 medium red potatoes (peeling optional) or 2 medium yukon gold potatoes (peeling optional)
1 carrot, cut in half lengthwise
1 large zucchini, diced
14 lb green beans, cut into bite-sized pieces
2 cups beans (any kind, cooked or a 19 oz can, rinsed and drained)
1 head napa cabbage (small head, thinly sliced) or 1 head savoy cabbage (small head, thinly sliced) or 1 head bok choy (small head, thinly sliced)
13 cup pesto sauce (plus more for the table)
1 cup dry pasta, cooked about 3 minutes less than package indicates
salt
pepper

Directions

1

Heat a drizzle of oil in a large saucepan or Dutch oven, and saute the onion, garlic, and pancetta or bacon until the onion is transparent, about 5 minutes.
2

Add the stock and tomatoes and bring to a simmer.
3

Add the potatoes, carrot, zucchini, both types of beans, and cabbage to the pot, and simmer again.
4

Cover, uncovered, until the vegetables are tender, about 30 minutes.
5

Add the pesto and pasta right before serving, and taste for seasoning (you may not need any--pancetta and pesto are both quite salty).
6

Pass around more pesto at the table if desired.