Minestrone

Prep time : 15 mins
Cooking time : 1 hour 20 mins
Serves : 20

Ingredients :
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 slice rindless bacon, finely chopped
3 carrots, halved lengthways and chopped
3 zucchini (courgettes) halved lengthways and chopped
2 celery stalks, sliced
2 potatoes, chopped
425 tinned diced tomatoes
300g tinned 4 bean mix, drained and rinsed
30g small pasta shapes
125g green beans, trimmed and sliced
grated parmesan cheese
chopped parsley

Method:
Heat the oil in a large saucepan and saute the onion and bacon until the onion is soft.

Add the carrot, zucchini, celery, potatoes, tomatoes and 4-bean mix and cook, stirring for 1 min.

Add 2.5 litres water to the pan and season with freshly ground black pepper.

Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for 1 hour.

Stir in the pasta and green beans and simmer for 12 mins or until tender.

Sprinkle the minestrone with parmesan cheese and chopped parsley and serve with crusty bread.

Source : Fallow, C & Kingham, K (2005) Baby & Toddler Food, Murdoch Books Pty Ltd