Contadina Insalata Minestrone Recipes

CONTADINA® INSALATA MINESTRONE

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water.
• Combine pasta and remaining salad ingredients, except Parmesan cheese, in a large serving bowl.
• Whisk together dressing ingredients in a small bowl. Pour over salad and mix well. Refrigerate at least 10 minutes for flavors to blend before serving. Serve with grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.

ITALIAN MINESTRONE

Steps:

• HEAT oil in large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add celery, onion and garlic. Cook and stir until crisp-tender.
• ADD cabbage and carrots. Cook and stir until crisp-tender. Stir in tomatoes with juice, tomato juice and broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low.
• MIX in the three kinds of beans, parsley, oregano and basil. Simmer 30 minutes or until vegetables are tender and flavors have blended.
• STIR in cooked pasta and Parmesan cheese just before serving. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve with grated Parmesan cheese on the side.

CLASSIC MINESTRONE

Steps:

• In a casserole heat the olive oil. Add the onions and cook until golden, about 5 to 7 minutes. Then add the carrots and celery and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Add the beans, bay leaf and thyme and toss for 1 minute. Then add the beef stock, Parmesan rind (if using), plum tomatoes and their juice, and salt and pepper to taste. (Careful with the amount of salt since Parmesan rind will add a salty flavor.) Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour. Add the potatoes, zucchini and savoy cabbage and cook for 20 minutes more or until the vegetables are tender. Finally, add your pasta and cook, covered, for about 10 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper, ladle into bowls and serve with some pesto.

CLASSIC MINESTRONE

Steps:

• In a large pot, heat oil over medium. Add onion, carrots, celery, red-pepper flakes, rosemary, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion begins to turn golden, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Add tomatoes; cook until some of the liquid evaporates, 1 minute. Add potato, cabbage, cannellini beans, and 7 cups water; bring to a boil. Stir in green beans.
• Reduce to a simmer, and cook until all the vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper; stir in garlic, if using, and basil. Serve sprinkled with Parmesan and, if using, torn basil. Drizzle with more oil, if desired.

CONTADINA® INSALATA MINESTRONE

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water.
• Combine pasta and remaining salad ingredients, except Parmesan cheese, in a large serving bowl.
• Whisk together dressing ingredients in a small bowl. Pour over salad and mix well. Refrigerate at least 10 minutes for flavors to blend before serving. Serve with grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.

LUCINDA'S MINESTRONE

Steps:

• Place 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, the onion, and garlic in a large heavy-bottomed soup pot over medium heat. Cook slowly, stirring occasionally, until the onion is translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the zucchini and the celery and keep cooking, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes more. Add another tablespoon of the olive oil and the cauliflower and cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, as the vegetables slowly begin to soften. Stir in the green beans, cabbage, and remaining olive oil and cook, stirring occasionally, for another 2 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes and 2 cups water and simmer until all of the vegetables are softened, 5 to 8 minutes more.
• Add the salt, pepper, and Parmesan cheese rind and stir. Add more water if needed for the desired consistency -- it should be very thick. Cover and simmer 30 minutes. Add the chickpeas and basil sprigs and cook until chickpeas are heated through, 5 to 6 minutes. Serve in bowls with the Parmesan cheese grated over top and freshly ground pepper, and drizzle with olive oil.