Minestrone
From the one star french chef Patrick Asfaux
Cooking time :
Total time :
Minestrone for 6 to 8 people:
- 160 g of dried white beans, soaked overnight and lightly blanched (*)
- 200 g of peeled and diced carrots
- 250 g of trimmed and diced green beans
- 200 g of fresh or frozen peas
- 1 large unwrapped zucchini, washed and diced
- 200 g of peeled and diced potatoes
- 200 g of peeled and diced turnips
- 200 g of blanched (*) and shredded cabbage leaves
- 4 cloves of peeled and crushed garlic
- In a tea infuser or cloth, enclose 1 bay leaf, a bit of thyme, and 6 peppercorns
- 300 g of peeled and quartered tomatoes
- 150 g of cut macaroni
- 3 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1 cube of chicken bouillon
- Some fresh basil leaves
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
Progression
2- Add the diced carrots and cook for 10 minutes. Then, pour in the 3 tablespoons of olive oil, add turnips, potatoes, green beans, diced zucchini, and shredded and blanched cabbage leaves. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper.
3- Once it resumes boiling, add peas, tomato quarters, and macaroni. Cook for an additional 10 minutes, then remove the infuser.
4- Just before serving, finely chop some fresh basil leaves and add them to your soup.
5- Serve in the middle of the table with a large bowl of grated Parmesan and perhaps a good bottle of Barolo for a successful Italian supper.
(*) Blanching involves plunging into cold water, bringing to a boil, and then cooling. This helps prevent potential flatulence.
In conclusion: In Milan, this minestrone is served with macaroni, diced ham, and small sausages. In Genoa, it is enriched with aromatic herbs, while some southern regions replace pasta with rice.