MInestrone Soup

Minestrone Soup
From: Amy H. (cooking group)
Serves: 6-8

Ingredients:
1/2 savoy cabbage (I have used napa cabbage)
Package of small shell pasta, prepare and set aside
1-2 cans petite diced tomatoes, not drained
1 cup fresh green beans, chopped
1 cup green peas
2 cans cannellini beans, drained ad rinsed
4 carrots, finely chopped
1 stick celery, finely chopped
1 onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
6 leaves fresh basil, chopped
2-3 Tablespoons olive oil
6 cups boiling water
6 teaspoons Better Than Bouillon, beef or chicken
Salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

Directions:
First step in real Italian foods is creating a soffritto. This builds deep layers of flavors in most Italian dishes. The ingredients are cooked slowly, until they wilt and become very aromatic. To start; heat the olive oil in a large sauce pan and add the onion and some salt and pepper. Cook down a few minutes and then add celery and one finely chopped carrot. Add a few tablespoons of warm water to help soften the vegetables. After the water has evaporated add the garlic. (It is important to not cook the onions and garlic together at the same time. The garlic will become bitter and change the flavor of your recipe.) Leave the soffritto to cook.

While the soffritto is cooking, prepare all the other vegetables. Once the ingredients have all softened in the sauce pan and the liquid has evaporated, add the rest of the vegetables except the green peas. Add the beans and the tomatoes. Leave to cook over a low flame for 5-10 minutes. Mix the bouillon with some of the boiling water to dissolve and add it to the pot with the rest of the water. The liquid should almost completely cover the vegetables. Add some extra salt. Leave the soup to cook, stirring occasionally for 45 minutes - 1 hour over a low flame. Ten minutes before the soup is ready add the green peas, then turn off the flame and add the fresh basil and leave to stand, covered for 10 minutes before serving. Add the pasta to each bowl as you serve the soup.

*Picture from Whole Foods Market