Minestrone Soup

Ingredients:-

Carrots - 1/2 sliced

Onions - 1 finely chopped

Celery - 1 cup finely chopped

Diced Tomato - 1 can medium size (i used 4-5 Roma tomatoes)

Peas - 1/4 cup

Shell pasta /Elbow pasta - 1/2 cup (uncooked)

Garlic pods - 7 finely chopped

Vegetable/Chicken stock / Water - 5 cups

Garbanzo beans - 1 cup

Oregano - 4 tsp (fresh or dried)

Basil - 2 tbsp (fresh or dried)

Pepper - 2-3 tsp

salt to taste

Olive oil

Italian parsley for garnish

Chicken breast-cut into small cubes

Method:-

In a big pan add some oil and heat it well. When hot enough add the garlic and saute for few minutes. Now add the onions and saute well till the onions are transparent.

Now add the stock / water and bring to a boil. Add all the chopped vegetables and mix well. Add the spices(Oregano), salt ( be careful while adding salt if ur using vegetable stock, as the stock may contain some salt in it as preservatives) and let it boil for like 10 minutes, until the veggies cook. Now add the garbanzo beans and chicken pieces and cook covered on medium flame for 25 minutes.

Now after 25 minutes stir the soup well. If you think the soup looks too thick or too chunky add some water to it. Let it boil a bit and then add in the pasta. Stir well and cook it covered for another 12 mins. By now u can smell the minestrone soup. Once the pasta is cooked your soup is ready for serving...:)

If your are Vegetarian don't add chicken stock & chicken breast