Ok so I’ve been watching the first season of Jersey Shore lately (don’t judge! It is outrageous, incomprehensible, and at times, completely hilarious…) and have had a good old-fashioned hankerin’ for some authentic Italian food.
So in my completely non-Italian way, I made minestrone. I don’t know whether it would pass muster with a proper Italian mama, but I sure like it. And I like the teensy star-shaped soup pasta I get to use even more. Topped with a big dollop of pesto and freshly grated parmesan, it’s a darn good soup. And since I don’t do chicken noodle, this is my go-to remedy for any illness. It’ll cure what ails ya!
Ingredients
Minestrone Soup
Olive oil
1 onion, diced
2 stalks celery, sliced
1 carrot, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
700g tomato passata
1 litre stock
1/2 teaspoon of basil, oregano and thyme (or the equivalent in mixed herbs)
2 bay leaves
1 zucchini, cut in half lengthways and sliced
handful of green beans, chopped into 1 inch pieces
1/2 cup peas
1 can chickpeas
1/2 cup soup pasta
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon brown sugar
pepper
fresh basil
Method
1. In a large stock pot, saute the onion, celery and carrot over medium heat until soft. Add garlic and saute another minute.
2. Add the passata, stock, herbs, bay leaf, vinegar, brown sugar and pasta. Bring to the boil, then cover and simmer at least 20 minutes.
3. Five to 10 minutes before serving, throw in the zucchini, beans, peas and chickpeas.
4. Serve topped with plenty of freshly grated parmesan, torn fresh basil, pesto and a grinding of black pepper.
Fist pump!
Bec says
June 3, 2010 at 11:06 amSpectacular – my favourite soup ever! And I love the way you cut your little carrots…
But your food is not invalid, I think it is extremely valid.
Now, get me some wood-oven bread: stat!
Claire Marie says
June 3, 2010 at 5:14 pmThat looks delicious… and I love the star shaped pasta! I always feel like a little kid again eating that stuff.
Veggie Mama says
June 3, 2010 at 9:50 pmThe stars are literally most of the reason I ever started making this soup in the first place!
Annabel Candy, Get In the Hot Spot says
June 4, 2010 at 4:50 amLooks yummy, nothing better than a hearty soup in winter and best of all it's great for the next day… or longer if it doesn't all get eaten in the first round!
Jodie at Mummy Mayhem says
June 6, 2010 at 1:39 pmI had a great Minestrone recipe that I lost, so I'm gonna try this one!
Looks delish!
Veggie Mama says
June 7, 2010 at 10:00 amMmm such a good winter dish 🙁
Our Park Life says
June 9, 2010 at 8:09 amGreat! I might try this dish next – I'm all for meals that will heal at the moment as we are one household of yucky colds… Hence the delay on my corn chowder!
But (drumroll!) the chowder is finally on the stove (this very minute!)
I'll let you know final result shortly…
Looking good so far, Gill x
Veronica Lee says
June 10, 2010 at 5:00 amYummy!!! Thanks for sharing this.
Hi! Stopping by from Aussie Mummy Bloggers. Love your blog.
Have a nice day!
Hear Mum Roar says
June 11, 2010 at 12:27 pmYum! And look at those pretty pasta shapes
Marthese says
June 12, 2010 at 3:08 amLove minestrone especially on a nice cold wintry day!
Veggie Mama says
June 15, 2010 at 11:07 amThanks for all the love, guys and dolls!
Veggie Mama says
August 17, 2011 at 3:30 amThanks for all the love, guys and dolls!
Hear Mum Roar says
August 17, 2011 at 3:30 amYum! And look at those pretty pasta shapes
Our Park Life says
August 17, 2011 at 3:30 amGreat! I might try this dish next – I'm all for meals that will heal at the moment as we are one household of yucky colds… Hence the delay on my corn chowder!
But (drumroll!) the chowder is finally on the stove (this very minute!)
I'll let you know final result shortly…
Looking good so far, Gill x
Claire Marie says
August 17, 2011 at 3:30 amThat looks delicious… and I love the star shaped pasta! I always feel like a little kid again eating that stuff.