Minestra

Some of Italy's finest ingredients make up this warming soup.

Recipe Categories : | Italian | Soup | Macaroni | Pasta | Spinach | Parmesan | Garlic | MAIN INDEX |

Preparation Time : 15 minutes Cooking Time : 45 minutes Serves : 4

Ingredients :

• 1 onion
• 1 carrot
• 1 stick celery
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 3 pints water
• salt and pepper
• 255g (8oz) fresh spinach
• 2 tomatoes
• 120g (4oz) short-cut macaroni
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 2 tbsp chopped parsley
• 1 tspn rosemary
• 60g (2oz) Parmesan cheese, grated

Preparation and Cooking Instructions :

1. Cut onion, carrot and celery into thick matchstick strips.
2. Heat oil in a large, heavy pan, and fry vegetable strips until just browning, stirring occasionally. Pour on water, add salt and pepper, and let simmer for 20 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, wash and cut spinach leaves into shreds, add to soup and cook for 10 minutes. Scald and skin tomatoes, and chop roughly, removing seeds.
4. Add tomatoes, macaroni, garlic, parsley and rosemary to the soup, and simmer a further 10 minutes. Adjust seasoning. Serve with grated Parmesan cheese if desired.