Minestrone

Total Time: 4 hrs Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 3 hrs 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 1/2 cup haricot beans
• 30 g butter
• 2 onions, chopped
• 80 g bacon, chopped, i use short cuts
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 2 1/2 liters water (10 cups)
• 6 beef bouillon cubes
• 3 carrots, diced
• 2 stalks celery, sliced
• 2 potatoes, diced
• 125 g green beans, sliced
• 3 zucchini, sliced
• 4 tomatoes, skin removed & chopped
• 1/4 cup tomato paste
• 1/3 cup macaroni, small
• 2 tablespoons parsley, chopped
• salt & pepper
• 1/2-3/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated

Recipe

• 1 soak haricot beans overnight in plenty of cold water to cover.
• 2 heat butter in a large pan, add onions, bacon pieces and garlic and saute gently until onions are transparent.
• 3 add water, crumbled stock cubes and drained beans, bring to boil, reduce heat, simmer covered 2 1/4 hours.
• 4 add vegetables to simmering stock, bring to boil, reduce heat, simmer covered 1 hour.
• 5 remove lid, add macaroni, simmer stirring occasionally until pasta is cooked 10 to 15 minutes, then stir in parsley, season with salt & pepper.
• 6 serve with grated parmesan.