Ingredients
- 1 cup (4 ounces) tubetti pasta, or other small pasta shape
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- 6 cups chicken stock
- 1/4 pound pancetta, cut into 3 pieces
- 6 medium garlic cloves, each cut in 1/2 lengthwise
- 2 cups finely chopped yellow onions (2 small onions)
- 1 cup small-diced celery (2 medium stalks)
- 1 cup small-diced carrots (2 to 3 medium carrots)
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped rosemary or thyme leaves
- 1 (14-ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (14 1/2-ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 4 cups small-diced zucchini (green/yellow) (5 small zucchini)
- 2 cups small-diced, peeled russet potatoes (1 large russet)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan
Directions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain and transfer the pasta to a baking sheet. Toss the pasta with a little olive oil to prevent sticking.
In a large saucepan over medium heat, warm the chicken stock.
In another large saucepan over high heat, heat 1/4 cup oil. When the oil is hot but not smoking, add the pancetta and cook until it begins to brown, 3 to 4 minutes, turning occasionally. Add the garlic and cook until it begins to brown, about 1 minute, stirring occasionally. Lower the heat to medium and add the onions, celery, and carrots.
Cook until the vegetables are soft, 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent browning. Add the chopped herbs. Raise the heat to high. Add the beans, tomatoes, zucchini, and potatoes. Add the chicken stock and bring to a boil. Then bring it down to a simmer and cook until the potatoes are tender, 12 to 15 minutes, skimming any foam off the top of the soup. Season generously with pepper. Add salt, to taste. Just a few minutes before serving, add the cooked tubetti pasta. Serve warm with Parmesan and olive oil passed at the table.
Cooking notes: Add the cooked pasta just before serving. If it sits in the soup too long, it develops a flabby texture. Tubetti (little hollow tubes) are the classic pasta for minestrone, but you could substitute another small shape of pasta.
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