Elena's Minestrone Soup

Elena's Minestrone Soup

Elena Faita, a leading figure in Little Italy, shares her famous minestrone recipe with us!

Ingredients

  • 2 cups cooked white beans
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1 onion
  • 2 celery stalks
  • 1 carrot
  • 2 cups diced butternut squash
  • 1 tbsp fresh rosemary
  • 1 cup pancetta or bacon
  • 14 oz diced tomatoes
  • 1/2 head kale
  • 3 leeks
  • 3 zucchini
  • Basil
  • 1/2 cup Italian parsley
  • Salt and pepper

Preparation

  1. Soak the beans for 12 hours.
  2. Cook the beans in salted water for about 1 hour and drain.
  3. Pure half of the mixture.
  4. Sauté the garlic, onion, celery, carrot, squash, rosemary, and bacon in the oil.
  5. Add the tomatoes, cabbage, leeks, zucchini, basil, parsley, and the beans (whole and puréed).
  6. Stir in 9 cups of water.
  7. Season with salt and pepper.
  8. Cook for about 1 1/2 hours or until reduced sufficiently.
Preparation
30 minutes
Cooking
1 hour and 30 minutes
Servings
6 portions
Category
Main dishes
Recipe by
Elena Faita