Minestrone Alla Milanese
Grrrrrgh!
Course : Italian
From: HungryMonster.com
Serves: 8
 

Ingredients:

1/4 pound green beans
2 medium zucchini
1 large potato
1/2 pound cabbage -- coarsely shredded
1/3 cup olive oil
3 tablespoons butter
2 medium onions -- chopped
3 medium carrots -- coarsely chopped
3 ribs celery -- coarsely chopped
1 clove garlic -- minced
28 ounces Italian plum tomatoes -- drain, reserve juice
3 1/2 cups beef broth
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dried basil -- crushed
1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary -- crushed
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 piece bay leaf
16 ounces cannellini beans -- rinsed and drained
 

Preparation:

Trim green beans; cut into 1-inch pieces. Trim zucchini; cut into 1/2 inch cubes. Peel potato; cut into 3/4 inch-cubes. Heat oil and butter in Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion; cook and stir 6 minutes until onions are soft, but not brown. Stir in carrots and potato, cook for 5 minutes. Add celery and green beans; cook for 5 more minutes. Then add zucchini; cook for 3 minutes, and finally add cabbage and garlic and stir for 1 minute. Add broth, water and reserved tomato juice to pot. Add coarsely chopped tomatoes to pot. Stir in salt, basil, rosemary, pepper and bay leaf. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally. Add cannellini beans. Uncover pot and cook over medium-low heat 30 minutes until soup thickens, stirring occasionally. Remove bay leaf. Sprinkle freshly grated Parmesan cheese on top before serving if desired.