Minestrone Soup Recipe

Ingredients:

1 tbsp butter or olive oil

(optional) 1/2 cup diced bacon (I prefer a non-smoked variety for this soup)

2 finely diced yellow onions

3 cups diced carrots

3 cups diced celery

3 zucchini (small to medium) peeled and diced

4 cups diced, steamed green beans

3 cups diced green cabbage

1 can diced tomatoes and the juice (fire-roasted are my fave)

1 cup red sauce (a cup of just about any spaghetti sauce will do)

7 cups beef or vegetable broth

Salt and pepper to your taste. I go light here with the batch and rely on salting bowls individually when serving.

(Serves 8 people)

Directions:

1. Choose a large 8-quart stockpot or dutch oven
2. Place on stove over medium heat
3. Once it is hot, add butter or olive oil to the pan and then the bacon (optional) until it starts to brown (about 5 minutes). Stirring frequently.
4. Next, add the diced onion and cook for about 5 minutes. Stirring frequently.
5. Add the diced carrots and cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Repeat this procedure with the green beans, celery, zucchini, and finally the cabbage… stirring and scraping the bottom frequently.
6. Add the broth, the diced tomatoes (entire can including juices), and a little bit of salt (go easy on the salt, especially if you are using canned broth. You can correct the seasoning or add salt at the end after sampling it). 
7. Cover and cook turning the heat down to a low simmer for at least 4 hours or until roasted veggies are very tender. Slow roasting this in the oven works great as well. 
8. Minestrone should never be thin and watery, so cook until it is soupy thick. If it gets too thick, you can always add another cup of broth or water at the end. The longer you cook it; the thicker it gets.

Options:

1. Add beans to your minestrone for extra protein if you tolerate them.
2. Add pasta to your minestrone for extra carbohydrates or to please your children.
3. Add both for a heartier more filling soup. 
4. Top with freshly grated parmesan cheese if you desire

SERVE AND ENJOY!!