Minestrone recipe - Recipes - BBC Good Food

Heat a little oil in a large pan and add the pancetta, onion and celery. Fry gently until the pancetta has released its fat and the onion is translucent - don't be tempted to brown everything or the pancetta will harden. Add the carrots and cook for 5 minutes then add the herbs and chopped tomatoes and cook for another 10 minutes.

Add the stock and simmer for 5 minutes then stir in the beans and greens and cook until the greens wilt. Serve drizzled with a little more oil and sprinkled with parmesan.

Three things to add to minestrone Tiny soup pasta shapes - add them with the stock. A couple of handfuls of rice - add them with the stock.

tbsp pesto - stir it in just before serving