Minestrone But With A Lot Of Parmesan
- Olive oil (a pour or two to cover the bottom of the pot)
- A medium to large white onion, chopped
- Cloves of garlic, minced (I love garlic so I use about 4 to 6 cloves, up to you though)
- 2 medium to large carrots, chopped
- 2 stalks of celery, chopped
- Chicken broth, start with 5-6 cups. (You will most likely have to add more)
- 1 28 oz. can of diced tomatoes, keep the juice!
- 1 15 oz. can of cannellini beans, drained
- 1 15 oz. can of green beans, drained
- a couple sprinkles of oregano, dried basil, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes
- 1 box of any kind of short pasta you want...wheels, macaroni or bow ties (You will use most of the box, not all of it)
- 1 cup of parmesan cheese for the soup, a few sprinkles for a topping when serving.
- Grab a large soup pot and pour the olive oil over a medium heat. Add the onion and cook for about 8 minutes.
- Add the garlic and cook for another minute.
- Add the carrots and celery. Cook for about 4-5 minutes til the carrots and celery have softened.
- Add the chicken broth and give it a stir.
- Next add the tomatoes with the juice. Then add the green beans and beans without their liquid.
- Now add the spices and herbs. Give it another good stir.
- Raise the heat to high and bring it to a boil. Let it boil for a few minutes while occasionally stirring.
- Then turn it down to a simmer. Let it simmer for about 15-20 minutes. During this it should thicken slightly, which is good. Keep stirring every now and then.
- Add most of the pasta, not all. Maybe about 2/3 cup. At this point you will need to keep the broth handy. You will most likely have to add more broth to cover the noodles.
- The noodles will need to cook for about 10 minutes. Keep adding broth as needed.
- Once the noodles have been added, you'll notice the liquid will absorb quickly. It is the pasta that soaks it up. Just add more broth as needed or add water with a few sprinkles of salt if you run out of broth.
- The last thing to add will be a cup of parmesan cheese. Give it one last good stir so the cheese melts.
- When serving, add some salt, pepper and a sprinkle of more cheese. Also feel free to add some bread on the side!
