Minestrone Soup is drawn from Pellegrino Artusi, the late dean of Italian gastronomes, and as you read it you will understand why his book is still selling briskly a century later.

Ingredients 

1 pound fresh borlotti or cranberry beans, shelled to yield 8 oz; (see note below), or 1 15 1/2 oz canned beans

4 cups chicken broth

8 oz tomatoes, peeled and seeded

8 oz cabbage, shredded

8 oz carrots, scraped, cubed

1 large potato, peeled and diced

8 oz string beans, cut in pieces, or fresh green peas

1 T chopped fresh parsley

coarse salt to taste

3 T extra virgin olive oil, plus some in addition for serving

1 medium onion, coarsely chopped

1 clove garlic, chopped

1 rib celery, trimmed, coarsely chopped

8 ounces small zucchini, scrubbed, cut in half, and sliced thin

1 large ripe tomato, peeled, seeded, and coarsely chopped

4 oz rice, Arborio if possible

chopped fresh basil to taste

freshly grated Parmesan cheese to taste

freshly ground pepper to taste

Method 

Bring broth to a boil in a soup kettle.

If using fresh beans, add the beans and cook for 30 minutes. If using canned, add with rest of fresh ingredients. Puree the 8 ounces tomatoes in a blender.

Add to the beans, along with cabbage, carrots, potato, string beans or peas, and parsley; add salt to taste. Cook for 30 minutes.

Heat the 3 tablespoons oil in a saucepan and cook the onion and garlic on low heat until golden. To same pan, add the celery, zucchini, and chopped tomato and cook for 15 minutes.

Add to the bean mixture and simmer for 30 minutes. In a separate pan, cook the rice until al dente, about 18 minutes, then drain.

Pour 2 cups cold water over to stop the cooking process, then drain again. Drain once more on a tea towel.

To serve hot, bring soup to a boil, add the rice and serve at once. To serve tepid, add rice to the cooled soup and mix. 

Serve in individual bowls (terra cotta if possible) with chopped basil. Pass freshly grated Parmesan, olive oil, and a pepper mill.