Minestrone

• Marvelous Minestrone
• Serves 6 to 8
• 1 cup dried cranberry beans (substitute pinto, Anasazi or other similar-sized dried bean)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 ounces thick-sliced pancetta, diced
• 1 cup chopped yellow onion
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 3 cups chopped green or savoy cabbage
• 2 cups green beans cut into 1-inch lengths
• 1 cup diced celery
• 1 cup diced carrots
• 1 cup diced fennel
• 1 russet potato, peeled and diced
• 1 cup diced zucchini
• 4 to 5 cups beef broth
• 1 (141/2 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 1/4 cup dry red wine
• 1/4 cup orzo
• 2 ounces Parmesan rind
• 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
• 2 cups roughly chopped Swiss chard (stalk end removed)
• Parmesan for grating
• Salt and pepper, to taste

1. 1. Place beans in a small pot with water to cover by 2 inches. Stir in salt. Cover and bring to a boil. Turn off heat and rest, covered, for 30 minutes.
2. 2. Meanwhile, in a large soup pot over medium-high heat, saute the pancetta in the olive oil, stirring until crisp. Add onion and garlic and cook until onion is translucent.
3. 3. Add to the pot (separately, sauteing a few minutes between additions) the cabbage, green beans, celery, carrots, fennel, potato and zucchini. Cook 10 minutes longer, stirring occasionally.
4. 4. Stir in four cups of broth, the canned tomatoes (plus their juice) and red wine. Add the cranberry beans, orzo, Parmesan rind and Italian seasoning. Lower heat and simmer for 1 to 11/2 hours, stirring occasionally until the beans are soft - but not too soft, adding broth as needed to make a thick soup.
5. 5. Season to taste with salt and pepper; just before serving, stir in the chard until wilted.
6. 6. To serve, garnish with fresh-grated Parmesan.

marvelous, cranberry beans, salt, olive oil, pancetta, yellow onion, garlic, chopped green, green beans, celery, carrots, fennel, russet potato, zucchini, beef broth, tomatoes, ubc, ubc, parmesan rind, italian seasoning, swiss chard, parmesan for grating, salt

Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/minestrone-52734131 (may not work)