This minestrone is packed with hearty veggies and is delicious topped with basil pesto (see in Recipes). This recipe is for a crock pot preparation but the meal can be made on the stove as well. I like to use a combination of garbanzo and cannellini beans. Add the dried herbs towards the end of cooking time, and rub them between your fingers. This helps release volatile oils and increase the herb’s flavor.
Sauté onion in a dry skillet. As it begins to brown and stick, add 1 TBS water. Repeat process several times until onion is soft. Transfer to crock pot.
To crock pot, add garlic and other vegetables (except kale and zucchini), beans, tomatoes, wine and water and/or broth. Stir to combine and cook on low 6-8 hours.
30-40 minutes before serving, add chopped kale and zucchini and herbs. Stir and recover.
Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package instructions and add to soup just prior to serving, along with salt and pepper to taste. Top each serving with basil pesto. (see in Recipes)