Minestrone with Pesto Recipe

Minestrone is a thick, mixed vegetable soup using almost any combination of seasonal vegetables. Short pasta of rice may also be added. This version includes pesto sauce.

 

Ingredients

  • onion - 1, large, chopped

  • carrots - 2, chopped

  • leek - 1, sliced

  • celery stick - 1, chopped

  • garlic - 2 cloves, chopped

  • potatoes - 2, peeled and cut into small dice

  • hot vegetable stock - 2 liter

  • bay leaf - 1

  • sprigs of fresh thyme - 1

  • pesto sauce - 4 tbsp

  • peas - 120g

  • cooked or canned beans such as cannellini - 450g

  • courgettes - 3, chopped

  • tomatoes - 3, medium, peeled and chopped

  • ground black pepper and salt

  • Parmesan cheese - grated, to serve

Method

  • Heat the oil in a pan, stir in the onion and leek, cook for 6 minutes, then add carrots, garlic and celery and cook over moderate heat for 8 minutes. Finally add the potatoes and cook for 5 minutes more.

  • Pour in the hot stock, stir well. Add the herbs and season with pepper and salt. Bring to boil, reduce the heat and cook for 15 minutes.

  • Stir in the peas and courgettes. Simmer for 5 minutes more and add the tomatoes. Cover the pan and boil for 8 minutes.

  • Before serving, uncover and stir in the beans. Simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in the pesto sauce, simmer for 5 minutes more.

  • Remove from heat and leave for 5 minutes, serve with grated Parmesan cheese. Serves 6.

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