Genoese (Minestrone) Soup

This makes a superb informal first course (primo) dish.

Serves 8
Prep Time 25 min
Cooking Time 1hr 40 mins
Ingredients

• 2 onions, sliced
• 2 carrots, diced
• 2 celery sticks, sliced
• 2 potatoes, diced
• 115 g/4 oz French beans, cut into 2.5-cm/1-inch lengths
• 115 g/4 oz peas, thawed if using frozen
• 200 g/7 oz fresh spinach leaves, coarse stalk removed, shredded
• 2 courgettes, diced
• 225 g/8 oz Italian plum tomatoes, peeled, deseeded and diced
• 3 garlic cloves, sliced thinly
• 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 2 litres/3 1/2 pints vegetable or chicken stock
• salt and pepper
• 140 g/5 oz dried Chiocciole or other soup pasta
• Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, to serve.

For the pesto

• 55 g/2 oz fresh basil leaves
• 15 g/1/2 oz pine kernels
• 1 garlic clove
• salt
• 25 g/l oz freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Method

• Put the onions, carrots, celery, potatoes, beans, peas, spinach, courgettes, tomatoes and garlic in a large, heavy-based saucepan, pour in the olive oil and stock and bring to the boil over a medium-low heat.
• Lower the heat and simmer gently for about 1 1/2 hours.

Meanwhile, make the pesto.

• Put the basil, pine kernels, garlic and a pinch of salt into a mortar and pound to a paste with a pestle.
• Transfer to a bowl and gradually work in the Parmesan with a wooden spoon, followed by the olive oil to make a thick, creamy sauce.
• Cover with clingfilm and set aside in the refrigerator until required.

Back to method

• Season the soup to taste with salt and pepper and add the pasta. Cook for a further 8-10 minutes, until the pasta is tender, but still firm to the bite.
• The soup should be very thick.
• Stir in half the pesto, remove the saucepan from the heat and set aside to rest for 4 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning, adding more salt, pepper and pesto if necessary (any leftover pesto may be stored in a screw-top jar in the fridge for up to 2 weeks).
• Ladle into warmed bowls and serve immediately.
• Pass round the freshly grated Parmesan cheese separately.

Shopping List

• Onions
• Carrots
• Celery
• Potatoes
• French beans
• Peas
• Fresh spinach
• Courgette
• Italian plum tomatoes
• Garlic  
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Dried Chiocciole
• Parmesan cheese
• Fresh basil leaves
• Pine kernels