Minestrone With Borlotti Beans And Parmesan Garlic Toasts Recipes

MINESTRONE WITH BORLOTTI BEANS AND PARMESAN GARLIC TOASTS

Steps:

• In a 4-quart heavy saucepan cook onion in oil over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until pale golden. Add carrots and cauliflower and cook, stirring occasionally, 3 minutes. Add zucchini and cook, stirring occasionally, 3 minutes. Stir in beans, broth, and water and simmer until vegetables are just tender, about 30 minutes. Stir in tomatoes with juice and simmer, stirring occasionally, until soup is thickened, about 30 minutes. Season soup with salt and pepper.
• Make toasts:
• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• On a baking sheet toast bread lightly in middle of oven. While bread is hot rub top of each toast with garlic and sprinkle with Parmesan. Bake toasts until Parmesan is melted, about 5 minutes.
• Serve minestrone with toasts.

MINESTRONE WITH BURRATA TOASTS

Steps:

• Make the minestrone: Put the beans in a large pot or bowl and add enough water to cover by a few inches. Let soak in the refrigerator overnight.
• Drain and rinse the beans. Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the pancetta and cook, stirring, until the fat is rendered, about 3 minutes. Add the leek, carrots and celery; cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the tomato paste, garlic, rosemary and red pepper flakes and cook until sizzling, about 1 minute.
• Add the chicken broth, 2 quarts water and the crushed tomatoes; bring to a simmer, then add the drained beans, bay leaves and Parmesan rind. Simmer until the beans are almost tender, 45 to 50 minutes. Season with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt.
• Add the butternut squash and escarole to the pot and cook until all the vegetables and the beans are very tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Add the ditalini and cook until al dente, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the toasts: Preheat the oven to 400˚ F. Arrange the bread on 2 baking sheets and bake until crisp and golden, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Rub one side with the garlic clove, brush with the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Spread the burrata on the bread and sprinkle with oregano and red pepper flakes. Return to the oven just to heat the burrata, about 2 minutes. Drizzle with olive oil.
• Remove the bay leaves from the soup; stir in the parsley. Ladle into bowls and drizzle with olive oil. Serve with grated Parmesan and the burrata toasts.

MINESTRONE WITH GARLIC AND PARMESAN CROUTONS

Steps:

• In a large saucepan heat 1 tablespoon oil over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking and sauté onion, carrot, and potato with salt to taste until vegetables are lightly browned. Add tomatoes and their liquid, broth, and pasta and simmer, stirring to break up tomatoes, 10 minutes, or until pasta and vegetables are tender.
• In a skillet sauté garlic in remaining tablespoon oil over moderately high heat until golden and discard with a slotted spoon. In garlic-flavored oil fry bread, seasoned with salt, over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until golden on all sides. Remove skillet from heat and add parsley and Parmesan, tossing croutons to coat well.
• Add zucchini and half the croutons to tomato mixture and simmer, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes, or until zucchini is almost tender and croutons are dissolved. Stir in romaine and cook 1 minutes.
• Serve soup sprinkled with remaining croutons.

KITTENCAL'S PARMESAN GARLIC BREAD OR GARLIC TOAST

Steps:

• Set oven to 375°F.
• ** FOR GARLIC BREAD; cut slices down the length of the bread about 1-inch intervals without cutting all the way through.
• In a bowl, combine the softened butter with garlic, parsley and Parmesan cheese; mix well to combine.
• Spread the butter/garlic mixture between bread slices, and then on the top of the loaf (you may sprinkle more Parmesan cheese on top of the loaf if desired).
• Wrap the bread in heavy-duty foil leaving the top partially uncovered.
• Bake until heated through (about 15 minutes).
• ** FOR GARLIC TOAST; slice the bread into slices, then spread the garlic butter mixture over the top of each slice of bread, then sprinkle more Parmesan cheese over the top of each slice or you can sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese on top in place of the Parmesan.
• Place onto a baking sheet and bake (350 degrees F) until lightly toasted to desired doneness.
• Serve warm.
• TO MAKE AHEAD: Combine all ingredients (except the bread) store covered in refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze in a covered container ----- this bread can be made without the addition of the Parmesan cheese if desired, but of course it's better with the cheese!