Clay's Kitchen : Ricette Italiane (Italian Recipes)

Ricette Italiane (Italian Recipes)

© Copyright 1995-2023, Clay Irving <clay@panix.com>, Manhattan Beach, CA USA

 Subscribe in a reader |
Share |

Minestrone Milanese (Minestrone of Rice and Vegetables)

Recipe from: Adriana's Italian Gourmet Cookies

⅓ pound pork rinds (cotenne)
1 pound fresh peas, podded
2 firm zucchini, diced
2 celery stalks, diced
2 carrots, diced
8 ounces ripe tomatoes
6 tablespoons lard
6 tablespoons parsley
6 sage leaves
2 cloves garlic
1 large onion, sliced
3 ounce pancetta, cut in little strips
1 pound shelled, fresh borlotti beans — if using dry beans, remember to soak them for a few hours
3 potatoes, diced
½ pound Savoy cabbage, sliced
4 tablespoon Parmigiano cheese
⅓ pound short or medium grain rice — rice can be replaced with a short pasta
salt

Scrape the pork rinds with a knife to clean the surface and remove any bristle that might still be attached to it. Blanch the pork rinds and let cool. Cut into strips and set aside.

Rinse and dice all the vegetables (zucchini, celery, and carrots). Peel, seed and dice the tomatoes, then let cool. Finely chop the lard, parsley, sage, garlic and onion. Sauté the pancetta over medium heat together with lard and herbs, stir until the lard melts and the onions get soft but not brown. Combine all the vegetables, except for beans, potatoes and cabbage, together with 3 quarts of hot water and a little salt. Cover the pot and let cook.

When the water boils, add the beans and the pork rinds cut into strips. Cook over a low fire for l ½ hours, and then add the potatoes and the cabbage cut into julienne. When the beans are done, add the rice. Continue to cook on a medium flame, stirring frequently so that the minestrone, which should have thickened by now, does not stick to the bottom of pot. When the rice is done (approximately 12 minutes), remove from fire and mix in the grated Parmigiano. If minestrone gets too thick, add some broth. Let it rest for 15 minutes and serve either hot or at room temperature.


Search for Recipes, Search using Google, or Return to Cookbook Index