Winter Minestrone

Ingredients

Contains: milk, wheat (auto-detected from the ingredients and method; we can miss things, so check labels)

• 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
• 1 cup Fully Cooked Ham, Diced
• 1 whole Yellow Onion, Diced
• 3 whole Large Carrots, Peeled And Diced
• 2 whole Parsnips, Peeled And Diced
• 3 stalks Celery, Diced
• 2 whole Sweet Potatoes, Peeled And Diced
• ½ cups Winter Squash, Peeled And Diced
• 3 cloves Garlic, Minced
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• ½ teaspoons Black Pepper (more As Needed)
• 2 Tablespoons Herbes De Provence
• 1 Tablespoon Tomato Paste
• 15 ounces, weight Canned Diced Tomatoes
• 6 cups Chicken Broth
• 1 whole Bay Leaf
• 1-½ cup Ditalini Pasta, Or Other Small Pasta
• 15 ounces, weight Canned Cannellini Beans, Drained And Rinsed Thoroughly
• 15 ounces, weight Canned Red Kidney Beans, Drained And Rinsed Thoroughly
• 6 ounces, weight Fresh Kale Or Baby Spinach, Chopped
• 2 Tablespoons Fresh Basil, Chopped
• ¼ cups Grated Parmesan, Optional

Directions

Method written by CompKitchen from the ingredient list. Not the original author's method, not kitchen-tested.

1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the diced ham and cook about 3 minutes until lightly browned.

2. Add the onion, carrots, parsnips, celery, sweet potatoes and winter squash. Cook about 8 minutes, stirring often, until the vegetables begin to soften.

3. Stir in the garlic, Herbes de Provence, black pepper and tomato paste. Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.

4. Add the canned diced tomatoes, chicken broth, bay leaf and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer, cover and cook about 25 minutes until the vegetables are tender.

5. While the soup simmers, cook the ditalini in a separate pot of boiling water until just tender, then drain.

6. Stir the drained cannellini beans and kidney beans into the soup and simmer uncovered 10 minutes.

7. Stir in the kale or spinach and cook about 3 minutes until wilted. Remove and discard the bay leaf.

8. Stir in the cooked pasta and fresh basil and simmer 2 minutes. Taste and add more black pepper if needed.

9. Ladle into bowls and top with grated Parmesan, if using.