Meaty Minestrone

Total Time: 2 hrs 35 mins Preparation Time: 1 hr Cook Time: 1 hr 35 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 1 (16 ounce) can plum tomatoes, coarsely chopped with juice
• 6 cups beef stock or 6 cups beef broth
• 1 lb beef stew meat
• 1 small yellow onion, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 carrots, sliced
• 1 stalk celery, sliced
• 1 cup shredded cabbage
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/4-1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
• parmesan cheese (1 1-inch wedge)
• 1 1/2 cups cut green beans (1-inch pieces)
• 1 zucchini, unpeeled, halved lengthwise and then sliced
• 1/2 cup small uncooked macaroni
• 1 (15 ounce) can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
• fresh grated parmesan cheese

Recipe

• 1 in a large stock pot or dutch oven, mix together the first 12 ingredients; bring to a boil.
• 2 immerse the parmesan cheese wedge in the soup.
• 3 lower heat to medium-low; simmer, covered, for about 1 hour, 15 minutes or until meat is tender.
• 4 add in green beans, zucchini, macaroni, and beans.
• 5 cover and simmer about 20 more minutes or until macaroni is al dente and vegetables are crisp-tender.
• 6 remove bay leaf and throw away.
• 7 ladle soup into bowls; sprinkle with parmesan cheese.