Classic Minestrone Soup Con Pesto Alla Genovese

Ingredients

3 tablespoons olive oil
2 onions
2 carrots
2 leeks whites only
2 stalks celery
2 potatoes
1 cup dry beans soaked
1 eggplant skinned
2 cups chicken broth
4 cups boiling water
2 tomatoes
1 1/2 cups cabbage
1 1/2 cups spinach
1 1/2 cups zucchini
3/4 cup pasta
3 pesto heaping
1 1/2 cups basil leaves
1 garlic clove
3 tablespoons pine nuts
1/2 cup olive oil

Instructions

In olive oil saute till soft onions, leeks, carrots, celery, and potatoes.= Add dry beans, eggplant and cook down. Add chicken broth, water, salt,= pepper, tomatoes and cook for about 1 hour covered. Add cabbage, spinach, zucchini. Add pasta. If too thick add more chicken broth. When done add pesto sauce.

Courtesy of Ciao Italia cookbook.