MINESTRONE WITH SHELL BEANS AND ALMOND PISTOU

Minestrone with Shell Beans and Almond Pistou image

Provided by Melissa Clark

Categories dinner, weekday, soups and stews, appetizer

Time 1h

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 21

Ingredients

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 sprig rosemary
3 bushy sprigs thyme
4 parsley sprigs
2 leeks, white and light green parts only, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 medium zucchini or yellow squash or half of each for color, diced
1 carrot, diced
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 cups vegetable or chicken broth
1 pound fresh shell beans like cranberry or cannelloni, shelled about 1 1/2 cups
4 plum tomatoes about 3/4 pound, diced
1/2 cup thinly sliced green beans
4 cups fresh basil, packed
1/3 cup slivered almonds
1/4 cup chopped plum tomato
2/3 cup grated Parmesan
2 large garlic cloves, roughly chopped
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

Steps:

In a large pot over medium-low heat, heat the oil. Tie rosemary, thyme and parsley in a bundle with kitchen string if desired (this makes it easier to fish out later). Add the herbs, leeks, garlic, zucchini or yellow squash, carrot, salt and pepper to the pot and sauté until the vegetables are golden, 10 to 15 minutes.
Add broth, shell beans, tomatoes, green beans and 4 cups water to the pot. Simmer partly covered until the beans are tender, 30 to 45 minutes. Discard herbs. Thin with a little water if the soup is too thick.
Prepare the pistou: Pulse the basil, almonds, tomato, Parmesan, garlic and salt in a food processor until basil is chopped and all the ingredients are combined. Drizzle in olive oil while the motor runs and continue processing until a paste forms. Serve the soup with dollops of the pistou, letting people add more as needed.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 416, UnsaturatedFat 25 grams, Carbohydrate 24 grams, Fat 33 grams, Fiber 7 grams, Protein 10 grams, SaturatedFat 6 grams, Sodium 812 milligrams, Sugar 9 grams, TransFat 0 grams