Main-dish Minestrone

Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins Preparation Time: 25 mins Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 lb italian sausage, sliced or crumbled
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup chopped celery
• 1/2 cup chopped carrot
• 1/2 cup chopped green pepper
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 pinch dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• salt & pepper
• 2 cups chopped tomatoes (or 19 oz can)
• 4 cups chicken stock
• 2 cups shredded cabbage
• 1 cup cooked or canned kidney bean
• 1/2 cup elbow macaroni (or other pasta)

Recipe

• 1 in large heavy saucepan, heat oil and butter.
• 2 add sausage; brown lightly.
• 3 add onion, garlic, celery, carrot and green pepper; cook until softened but not browned.
• 4 stir in parsley, basil, thyme, bay leaf and a little salt& pepper.
• 5 stir in tomatoes and stock.
• 6 bring to a boil; reduce heat, cover and simmer for about 10 minutes.
• 7 add cabbage, beans and macaroni.
• 8 cover and simmer about 30 minutes.
• 9 if too thick, dilute with water to desired consistency.
• 10 taste and adjust seasoning.
• 11 a nice variation on this soup is to add ground beef instead of sausage, and beef stock instead of chicken stock.
• 12 add 3/4 cup dried lentils and 1/4 cup barley instead of macaroni and kidney beans.