Minestrone

Ingredients

Canned white beans 450g

Bacon 125g

Potatoes 2

Celery (stalks) 3

Onion 1

Green chili pepper 1

Red bell pepper 1

Zucchini 1

Green beans 125g

Green peas 1 cup

Tomatoes 2

Tomato juice 800ml

Garlic 2 cloves

Fresh basil 12 leaves

Olive oil 60ml

Salt

Ground black pepper

Parmesan cheese

Cut all the vegetables into cubes. Remove the seeds from the hot pepper and chop finely. Divide the vegetables into two mixtures. First mixture: onion, celery, hot pepper.

Second mixture: potatoes, red bell pepper, green peas, green beans, zucchini. 

Heat the olive oil in a saucepan and add the bacon. Fry for a couple of minutes over medium heat, making sure the bacon doesn't brown, but only renders the fat.

Add the first mixture. Squeeze the garlic into it. Simmer over low heat for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, peel the tomatoes. Make cross-shaped cuts, pour boiling water over them, and let them sit for a few minutes.

Then remove them from the boiling water and peel them.

Purify the tomatoes in a blender until completely pureed.

Add the tomatoes to the saucepan and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the tomato juice. You can use canned tomatoes and puree them in a blender. Simmer for another 5 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Add the second mixture. Cook for 5 minutes. Add the beans and cook for another 5 minutes. Add boiling water to the full pot. Season with salt and pepper. Cook for another 10 minutes. Let the soup simmer for a while. Turn off the heat. The soup is ready.



Finely chop the basil leaves.



When serving, sprinkle with basil leaves and cheese.

Enjoy!