Minestrone Soup

                                          Minestrone Soup

Minestrone soup was my main reason to go to an Italian restaurant.I used to frequent all the Italian big brand restaurant until I started making this soup at home! Now,I can make my own version with my specific taste and enjoy this at home with homemade eggplant Parmesan.Sometimes I also add whole Moong bean soaked in water overnight to make it more nutritious.

Ingredients:

1. Black-eyed peas (Lobiya)-1/2 cup
2. Red kidney beans (Rajma)-1/4 cup 
3. 1/2 can tomato sauce or puree
4. 1 small zucchini,4 string beans,1 carrot,4-5 whole leaves of spinach,1 small potato,1 floret orange or white cauliflower (Phool gobhi),1 small tomato
5. 1 medium size onion
6. 2 cloves garlic
7. 1 & 1/2 tbsp. olive oil
8. 2 cups water
9. Salt,oregano 1 tsp.,Italian seasoning 1 tsp., dried basil and parsley 1 tsp. each
10. Black pepper freshly ground 1/2 tsp., paprika powder 1/2 tsp.

Method:

1. Soak black eye peas and kidney beans overnight.
2. Finely chop onions and heat oil and saute them till pink.
3. Add finely chopped or crushed garlic and stir for a minute.
4. Add tomato paste,all the spices,salt and cook till oil separates.
5. Add soaked legumes and water and potato cube with skin and cook till 2 whistles.
   
6. Open the lid when steam is absorbed and add zuccini (sometimes I add opo squash cubes in place of zucchini),beans,carrots and keep boiling for about 6-7 minutes.
7. Now add ziti (or smallest pasta available) and cauliflower.
8. After 8 minutes,add roughly cut tomato and whole spinach leaf.
9. Stir for about 2 minutes and cover.
10. Serve hot with fresh bread sticks.