Make Mine Minestrone

Minestrone

1 cu (dry) great northern beans

1 medium onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
pinch salt

4 cu beef broth
1 bay leaf
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried marjoram

1 lb lean beef, diced
3 tomatoes, peeled and chopped

4 small potatoes, diced

2 medium carrots, diced
2 medium zucchini, diced

Salt and pepper to taste

1/2 lb dry pasta

1/4 cu fresh basil, chopped
2 cups baby spinach, chopped

Fresh grated parmesan cheese

Soak beans in salted water overnight.

The next day, pre-heat oven to 250 F, and saute onion in olive oil with a pinch of salt in a large oven-proof pot for 3-4 minutes. Add garlic and cook another few minutes until onion is translucent and just starts to turn brown. Add beans, including water (at least two cups), and beef broth. Add bay leaf, marjoram, and thyme, and bring to a simmer. Cover the pot, and place in oven. Cook 3-4 hours.

Add beef and tomatoes, and return to the oven for another hour.

Add potatoes, return to oven for another hour.

Add zucchini and carrots, and cook until beans and vegetables are done, about another 30-45 minutes.

Cook pasta almost to al dente, and rinse under cold water. Add pasta to the pot. Add salt and pepper as needed, then basil and spinach, and cook briefly, until the spinach is just wilted. Serve in bowls topped with parmesan cheese.

I think this turned out pretty well. Yes, there's quite a bit of taking it out of the oven and adding stuff, but I'm obsessed with having all the veggies cooked just right. No mushy potatoes, no crunchy carrots. If you don't care, just throw it all in a pot and hope for the best. But don't come crying to me if you die of colonic inversion or something.

Doing long-cooking soups like this in the oven on low is great - no worries about burning or sticking to the bottom of the pot, the potatoes and other bits stay intact because they aren't broken apart by vigorous boiling action. I stole the idea from Cook's Illustrated.

We served it with garlic bread, made from the french bread from a few days ago. I don't have a recipe for garlic bread. I'm sure you can figure it out.


Kid ratings:

Christopher Robin
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