belleau minestrone
like most soups here at belleau, this one is made up of anything that’s left in the fridge and the pasta cupboard and there’s something wonderfully satisfying about making space in that pasta cupboard isn’t there? It means you can fill it with other crap that falls out and throws itself all over the floor when you open the door… the secret to this bowl of fabulousness is the large teaspoon of dried oregano… it adds a punch that you don’t get from fresh and once you’ve grated some cheese on top it tastes a lot like pizza soup… if that’s a good thing…
1/2 large white cabbage – cut and sliced into bits
1 large onion – finely chopped
1 large teaspoon dried oregano
1 large carrot – diced
2 large sticks of celery – diced
1 leek – sliced and diced
1 tin of chopped tomatoes
a handful of frozen peas
a handful of macaroni
2 pints good quality vegetable stock
fresh rosemary and thyme
2 bay leaves
in your largest soup pan saute the onions in a little butter and olive oil and throw the oregano and chopped fresh herbs in at this stage and let those flavours mingle
add the carrots, celery and leeks, stir around, place the lid on and let the veg sweat for 5 or 6 minutes until soft
add the tinned toms, the cabbage, the bay leaves and the stock and let it bubble gently for 20 minutes, then turn off the heat, add the pasta and the peas and let it sit for at least an hour before re-heating and eating, if not over night.
clearly i’m entering this bowl, packed full of herbs, into our Karen’s lovely Herbs on a Saturday…hosted this month by Vanesther at Bangers and Mash… it’s a bit of an institution over at Lavender and Lovage and encourages us all to use more herbs when we cook…
eat and of course, enjoy!
Minestrone was one of the very first things that I learnt to cook and I don't think I've made it since then. This post has reminded me that I should definitely make it again and soon!
Yep, that stuff hiding in various corners of the fridge is always soup material – as long as it hasn't started its own little blue-green garden. Peter made a huge batch of lentil on Sunday. Very tasty.
I second your view that such soups (and stews) improved by sitting overnight. We eat a lot of soup and haven't had a minestrone for a while. *makes a note*
Your right minestrone is the type of dish that will accommodate anything in the fridge and cupboard. This sounds great – ready and waiting for you when you are tempted by something less good for you.
Having just been hit on the head by a packet of pinenuts, a clothes peg and an elderly Soreen mini-loaf (!) falling out of my food cupboard, I completely agree with the virtues of making space in there.
Pizza soup is definitely a good thing for me. Gorgeous minestrone Dom. It looks mighty tasty.
Looks very similar to my Cannelini Bean soup I posted last night, no cabbage in mine though. Love a big pot of soup and this looks perfect.
This sounds wonderful! I wonder if the cabbage I froze last fall would do. And I might add a can of beans (pintos?) too. Must try this before it is too warm in Atlanta, GA, USA to enjoy it. Despite the daffodils blooming in my yard, we still have a few more weeks of winter.
So so lovely, the exact kind of thing you want to eat on a day like this. It also makes you feel virtuous and good!
Absolutely love it – I lived off this when I was a veggie – and I was much thinner in those days! Coincidence? I don't think so! BTW, leftovers are fab on a baked potato. (Butter optional!)
I'm so in awe of this weight loss Dom, you are making me get a grip…good for you! (nice pot of tastiness too by the way). x
If you ask me, this kind of soup is the best diet trick ever…so satisfying and filling, but nobody every got fat on soup! Love how rich it looks 🙂
Soups packed with all the odds and ends in the fridge are one of my favorites. I haven't made minestrone in far too long–thanks for the reminder! 🙂
It looks amazing Dom. JUst the kind of comfort food we are craving these days.
I made minestrone tonight to use up a Savoy cabbage and various other odds and sods lurking in the fridge. Not sure mine looked quite as pretty as yours though. A great entry for Herbs on Saturday – thanks for sharing!
Pizza soup sounds like a good 'un to me! Love the look of this – it must be so satisfying and soup is definitely something fine to come home to. 🙂 x
Way to go! Soon we'll be calling you the thin man!
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Oh Gawd! Is there anything better than a good old pot of clean out the fridge minestrone ??? I'm with Kay (who happens to be a chum from way back when!)… put some beans int hat soup too!
Thanks for another soup for my list of 'must makes', my dear!
THANKS so much for this herbal delight Dom, it looks hearty and yet healthy! I ADORE Minestrone soup and when I am not on a diet, I mop it all up with acres of crusty bread! Karen
I agree about eating soup when you get home from work. The thing I like about it is that you are getting a really good meal and you can eat it at a reasonable hour. The soup looks filling and of course with all the vegetables, very healthy, low calorie and delicious.
I've been eating soup a lot lately esp when i get home from school, make a huge pot at a go usually and have it for a coupel days after. they def improve with time, plus I just like knowing I have sth reasonably healthy on standby 🙂
p.s. your minestrone looks shit gorgeous!
Lovely soup, looks gorgeous! Thank you for this recipe, like you had I have a white cabbage which needs finishing so I know what I'll be making for lunch today:-)