Classic Italian Minestrone (Soupe Paysanne)
- Ready In:
- 2hrs 30mins
- Ingredients:
- 14
- Serves:
-
29
ingredients
- 1⁄4 lb pork fat, chopped
- 2 lbs boiling potatoes, peeled and diced
- 1 head green cabbage, cored and chopped (about 1 1/ 2 pounds)
- 3⁄4 lb swiss chard leaf, no white part,chopped
- 1 medium red onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 6 cups water
- 2 cans red kidney beans (drained and well rinsed)
- 1 ham hock, split longways into four equal pieces (about 1/ 2 pound)
- 1 large tomatoes, peeled,seeded and chopped (about 10 ounces)
- 1⁄4 lb elbow macaroni
- 1 tablespoon salt
- fresh ground black pepper
- extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling
directions
- In a large casserole or soup pot, cook the pork fat over medium-high heat until there is some fat in the bottom of the pot, about 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Then add the potatoes, cabbage, chard, onion, and garlic until the greens are wilted, about 5 minutes.
- Pour in the water, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, add the beans, ham or smoked bacon, and tomato, and cook until the beans are tender, 2 to 3 hours.
- Add the elbow macaroni and continue to cook until a spoon can stand straight up in the center of the soup, and the pasta is tender--about 15 minutes.
- Season with salt and pepper, drizzle with olive oil, and serve.
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Reviews
-
This soup got RAVES in my picky-5-star-tastebud household. I followed it loosely, as Minestrone is such a great way to use up leftover veggies & ham. Instead of ham hock I used my leftover smoked ham-on-bone (I also included the remaining sauce, which was a gelatinous mixture of mustard & molasses). For liquid I used about half water and half boxed chicken broth, probably much more than 6 cups; I simmered my leftover ham/bone with onion/celery/carrot for a couple hours first to infuse the water with flavor. Meanwhile I chopped my veggies: kale, broccoli, zucchini, chopped cherry tomatoes, leek, potato, garlic, and a can each of kidney & garbanzo beans. I served it with parmesan cheese and it was simply AMAZING. In retrospect I probably made it way too complicated; next time I'll follow the process here more diligently.
RECIPE SUBMITTED BY
Molly53
United States