January 2025

Minestrone with Pest Grilled Cheese Paired with Great Frogs Home Red

Flavorful and delicious, this make Minestrone one of my favorite soups of all time! It cannot be beat for many reasons. Full of delicious and healthful veggies and herbs, topped with a little Parmesan and you’re good to go. Adding a warm gooey grilled cheese sandwich layered with multiple cheeses and spread with yummy pesto just makes this grilled cheese stand out! Bring it to another level by serving with a glass of Great Frogs Home Red, a fruit forward wine with acidity to pair will with the tomato and herbs in the minestrone.
Enjoy!

Ingredients   

2 garlic cloves, grated

1  yellow or white onion, chopped

1  red bell pepper, chopped

2-4 large carrots, sliced

2-4 celery stems, chopped

5-6 potatoes, cut into 1/2” pieces

2 small zucchini

1-15oz can diced fire roasted tomatoes

1-10 oz bag frozen green beans, or 2-3 cups fresh

1-15 oz can kidney beans, drained and rinsed

2- cups chopped spinach, optional

2-3 tsp dried basil

1-1/2 tsp dried thyme & rosemary,

1/2 tsp garlic powder

2 bay leaves

1/2 cups water red wine.

Salt and pepper to taste,(add salt after cooking to avoid over salting)

6 cups water or vegetable broth

Method

Remember Minestrone is basically a vegetable soup. You can really add whatever vegetables you like. This recipe is made with potatoes rather than pasta, but you could definitely add cooked pasta to the soup after it is cooked.  While soup is simmering, prepare grilled cheese.

-Begin by adding a little olive oil and chopped onion to large Dutch oven or pot. Simmer until translucent.

-Next, add bell pepper, celery, carrot simmering for another 5 min or so,

-add all herbs simmer another min or so, then red wine, simmering until wine is absorbed.

-add tomatoes, green beans, potatoes, water or vegetable broth, cover and simmer 30 min.

-add zucchini & kidney beans, simmer until zucchini is tender, cover and simmer another 20 min

-add spinach and pasta if using.

*To thicken soup, (optional), before serving soup, make a slurry with water and arrowroot powder and stir into soup simmer until thickened and translucent. Remove from heat, do not simmer for too long, just a few minutes. You can also make a slurry with water and cornstarch, or put 1-2 cups soup in blender, then return to soup.

Pesto Grilled Cheese

Use a good bread, cracked wheat, sourdough, whole grain.

Smoked provolone, sliced

Parmesan, shredded, grated or thinly sliced.

Pre-made pesto

Spread pesto on inside of both pieces of bread, assemble with desired cheeses, butter outside of bread and grill! 😋 YUM