Minestrone

Total Time: 2 hrs 15 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 2 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 1 cup finely minced onion
• 1 cup finely minced celery
• 1 cup finely minced carrot
• 1/4 cup butter or 1/4 cup olive oil (i used a little light margarine, but olive oil is fine)
• 2 cans italian-style diced tomatoes
• 1 can garbanzo beans, drained
• 1 can light kidney beans, drained
• 1 can dark red kidney beans, drained
• 1 can green beans, drained
• 3/4 cup sliced carrot
• 3/4 cup chopped onion
• 3/4 cup sliced celery
• 3/4 cup chopped bell pepper
• 3 quarts vegetable broth (i used vegetable base with water)
• 2 teaspoons dried parsley
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 2 teaspoons soy sauce
• 1 cup pasta (i used 3 cups whole wheat pasta)
• fresh ground black pepper, to top

Recipe

• 1 make sure first three ingredients are almost a paste.
• 2 in a large pot, saute first three ingredients in butter or oil until very brown.
• 3 add all beans, remaining vegetables, and spices, both cans tomatoes, along with 3 quarts of vegetable broth.
• 4 bring to a boil.
• 5 lower heat and simmer over low heat for 1 hour, until everything is tender.
• 6 20 minutes before serving, add the macaroni and more broth, if necessary.