Cheap Eats: 15 Minute Minestrone

It is still January and I am still cold! So let’s make more soup. Minestrone is a hearty Italian classic ususally consisting of beans, pasta, vegetables and a tomato broth. Red beans or white beans can be used - but since I am using what I have in the pantry, that means today it will be chickpeas. There is an option to not use pancetta/bacon - up to you! Enjoy and stay warm.

Ingredients

• two strips of bacon chopped(optional) or two tablespoons olive or vegetable oil

• one small can of chickpeas (150/about a Cup) or whatever canned bean you have in the pantry, rinsed and drained

• one zucchini, chopped into small pieces

• one or two small carrots, chpped into small pieces

• one shallot or half an onion, chopped

• one 400 ml/12 oz can of crushed tomato or strained tomato

• 800 ml/24 oz water

• one bouillon cube (vegetable or chicken, just not fish)

• 1/4 cup/40 grams of a smal/tiny dried pasta (or break up spaghetti into tiny pieces and never tell an actual Italian that you did so, because tradition…)

• grated cheese for garnish (optional)

Directions

If using the bacon, saute until crisp then remove leaving the oil. If you are not using bacon, start with the oil in the pot, and add the chopped shallot and carrot and cook for five minutes covered. Once this starts to become tender, add the pasta, chickpeas, bouillon cube, tomato, and two can fulls of water. Let this boil for about 5-7 minutes. Add the zucchini and crispy bacon last, and cook for another 5 minutes. Done. Enjoy with some toast and Netflix.