Minestrone Soup

Submitted by: Charlene	Country: Canada
Category: Home/Soups & Creams
Quantity: 4 to 6 servings	Preparation time: 0:30 hr. Cooking time: 2:00 hr.

Ingredients

2	onions	2
3	carrots	3
3	sticks of celery	3
8 oz	potatoes	250 g
2	zucchini	2
3 oz	green beans	90 g
8 oz	cabbage	250 g
1/4 cup	oil	60 mL
3 tbsp	butter	45 g
5 cups	water	1.25 L
3	beef stock cubes	3
2	cans (14 oz/400 g) peeled whole tomatoes	2
1	can (11 oz/310 g) cannellini beans	1
	salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Peel and finely chop onion; peel and chop carrots; string and chop celery; peel and dice potatoes; dice zucchini; top and tail beans and chop into small pieces; shred cabbage.

Heat oil and butter in large pan, add onions, cook over medium heat until onions are pale golden brown.

Add carrots, cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Repeat this procedure with the potatoes, then the celery, zucchini, beans and cabbage. Stir in water, crumbled stock cubes and undrained, mashed tomatoes.

Bring to boil, reduce heat, cover, simmer approximately 2 hours or until soup is thick.

During the last 15 minutes of cooking, stir in drained and rinsed cannellini beans.

Season with salt and pepper.

Chef's Note

If desired, grated parmesan cheese can be stirred into the soup before serving or served separately with the soup.