Name: MINESTRONE SOUP
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 180 min
Total time: 195 min
Ingredients: 3 ounces dried barley* (see note below if gluten free); 5 ounces dried split peas; 5 ounces dried lima beans; 5 ounces dried red beans; 6 stalks celery (chopped); 6 Swiss chard leaves (chopped); 1/4 small head cabbage (shredded); 1 leek (cleaned and chopped); 5 ounces salt pork (finely chopped); 1 medium onion (chopped); 1 Garlic Cloves (minced); 1 1/2 cups tomato puree; 2 cups tomatoes (diced); 2 tablespoons salt; 1 teaspoon black pepper; 2 tablespoons dried basil; 1 medium eggplant (peeled and cut into bite-sized pieces); 1 medium zucchini (cut into bite-sized pieces or sliced); 1 medium yellow squash (cut into bite-sized pieces or sliced); 3 ounces uncooked macaroni noodles (I use Tinkyada gluten free brown rice Elbow pasta); 1 strip Kombu seaweed (optional); Parmesan cheese (freshly grated)

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We have now had our first snow. Always dubious of newscaster’s predictions, I was mindful of the possible 12 inches but not wed to it by far. There have been many an occasion we’ve been promised to wake up to snow only to be greeted by the dry asphalt we bid goodnight hours prior. This time Mother Nature delivered. I woke to 11 inches of snow and enjoyed a few more from the light sprinkling throughout the rest of yesterday. After pulling out the snow blower (purchased after a Mac Daddy storm deposited 32 inches in my driveway years ago and hardly ever needed since) I did what any girl worth her salt would do; made soup. From scratch.

I was recently digging through and old recipe folder I seldom use now favoring cookbooks or the internet. I came upon a soup in my mother’s hand writing that instantly took be back to my childhood when she’d make a massive batch and freeze plastic tubs of it pulling them out all winter long. Minestrone Soup. I simply loved it. Full of beans, pasta, salted pork and seasonal vegetables in a savory broth topped with Parmesan cheese; seemed perfect for the occasion. It makes a large batch with leftovers for freezing.

The soup is a bit of a labor of love for the time duration. This version is made with dried beans that are not presoaked. Each is boiled differently though at the same time. It is about a 3 hours cooking process in addition to any vegetable preparation. The original recipe cited rough suggestions for vegetable additions which I’ve specified more clearly. I found it great way to use the end of my home garden and produce from my farm CSA as well. You can definitely substitute canned (home or purchased) tomatoes or puree. I like my soup full of chopped vegetables; feel free to use a bit less if that’s not to your liking or experiment with adding more water and puree for more broth.

MINESTRONE SOUP

One thing that was not in the original recipe was the addition of the kombu seaweed. This is a trick I learned when cooking with beans. Adding a strip of the seaweed does not alter the flavor but does improve the ‘digestive distress’ beans can cause. The seaweed is removed before serving.

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Course: Soup

Cuisine: American

Keyword: minestrone soup

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 3 hours

Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes

Servings: 1-cup servings total yeild: (8-10 quarts)

Calories: 118kcal

Author: Toni Dash

Ingredients

3 ounces dried barley* see note below if gluten free
5 ounces dried split peas
5 ounces dried lima beans
5 ounces dried red beans
6 stalks celery chopped
6 Swiss chard leaves chopped
1/4 small head cabbage shredded
1 leek cleaned and chopped
5 ounces salt pork finely chopped
1 medium onion chopped
1 Garlic Cloves minced
1 1/2 cups tomato puree
2 cups tomatoes diced
2 tablespoons salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons dried basil
1 medium eggplant peeled and cut into bite-sized pieces
1 medium zucchini cut into bite-sized pieces or sliced
1 medium yellow squash cut into bite-sized pieces or sliced
3 ounces uncooked macaroni noodles I use Tinkyada gluten free brown rice Elbow pasta
1 strip Kombu seaweed optional
Parmesan cheese freshly grated

Instructions

Do the following three steps at the same time:
Rinse and drain the split peas and barley. Place in a medium sauce pan with 2 quarts water and bring to a boil. Boil for one hour. Drain.
Rinse lima beans. Place in a medium sauce pan with 5 cups water and bring to a boil. Boil for one hour then mash. Note: the water should be almost gone when cooking is done. If you find you need to add more water, do so one cup at a time so there is not too much water when boiling is complete.
Rinse red beans. Place in a medium sauce pan with 7 cups water and bring to a boil. Boil for one hour and 15 minutes. (See note for lima beans about adding more water if needed). Drain and set aside.
In a large stock pot add split peas, barley (or rice if using that), celery, chard, cabbage, kombu seaweed (if using) and leek with 5 quarts of water. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to a simmer over low heat.
In a large frying pan on medium-high heat combine salt pork, onion and garlic stirring frequently until browned (10-15 minutes).
Add tomato puree, tomatoes. Cook a few minutes to combine and then add to the stock pot.
Add red beans. Simmer 30 minutes from time of adding the pork/tomato ingredients.
Add mashed lima beans, salt, pepper, dry basil to stock pot. Cook for an additional 30 minutes.
Add the vegetables and cook an additional 30 minutes.
Cook the pasta as instructed on the package; drain. Add to the soup 5 minutes before serving! Top with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

Notes

*Gluten free adaptation: For barley, substitute an additional ounce for each the split peas, lima beans and red beans OR use rice instead. See my note above on gluten free pasta choice.

Kombu Seaweed: One thing that was not in the original recipe was the addition of the kombu seaweed. This is a trick I learned when cooking with beans. Adding a strip of the seaweed does not alter the flavor but does improve the ‘digestive distress’ beans can cause. The seaweed is removed before serving.

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Old School Minestrone Soup

MINESTRONE SOUP

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MINESTRONE SOUP

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Nutrition

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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