Mangia! Taste spring in this minestrone

What makes minestrone, minestrone? 

Growing up, Saturdays meant minestrone. My grandmother would take whatever vegetables were left over from the week's meals and put them into a pot with some broth, some beans or some pasta and there, with a chunk of bread, was dinner.

As in most immigrant households, there was no wasting of food in our house, There was not an option of "I don't want to eat left overs."

Minestrone has been around since before the Roman Empire, but it has never been pinned down to a formal recipe. Minestrone can be a thick, tomato based stew or a light, brothy soup, depending on the season, the available ingredients...or the grandmother.

According to the dictionary, the word minestrone derives from the word "minestrare" which means "to serve". Minestrone means "that which is served." 

That which is served...that's the Italian grandmother equivalent of "Eat what's on your plate!"

Spring is in the air and on our plates right about now. This is my version of a minestrone with spring veggies. It's light and tasty,

Spring Minestrone

Makes 6 servings

• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 2 leeks, white and light green parts only, cut into half moons
• 1 bunch of asparagus, woody parts cut off, chopped
• 3 carrots, cut into circles
• 3 new potatoes, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, smashed
• 1/2 cup of peas
• 6 cups of vegetable broth
• 1 cup of chickpeas (or other beans), soaked overnight and cooked or 1 15 oz. can, drained and rinsed
• 3 tablespoons of lemon juice
• Dill for serving
• Parmesan cheese, shaved or grated, for serving

1. Put two tablespoons of the oil in a pot on medium-low heat. Add the leeks, the asparagus, the carrots, the potatoes and the garlic, stirring occasionally, for about 8 minutes.
2. Add the broth  and the beans and continue to cook for about 30 minutes.
3. Add the peas and cook for another 5 minutes.
4. Stir in the lemon juice and remove from the heat.
5. Put into bowls and sprinkle dill sprigs and parm.

What's in your fridge...or garden?

Mix and cook it up

Dinner

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