Minestrone Alla Milanese - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1/4 lb green beans, cut in 1 inch pieces
2 medium zucchini, diced
1 large potato, peeled and large diced
1/2 lb cabbage, shredded
3 stalks celery, coarsely chopped
3 tablespoons butter
2 onions, chopped
3 carrots, coarsely chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
28 ounces crushed plum tomatoes
42 ounces beef broth
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon basil
1/4 teaspoon rosemary
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 bay leaf
16 ounces cannellini beans
1 cup ditalini

Preparation

Heat butter in 6 quart stock pot over medium heat. Add onions; cook and stir 6-8 minutes until soft and golden, but not brown.
Stir in carrots and potato; cook and stir 5 minutes. Add celery, green beans, zucchini, cabbage and garlic; cook and stir 5 minutes.
Add broth, water and tomatoes to pot. Stir in all spices.
Bring to a boil over high heat; reduce to low. Cover and simmer 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
Rinse and drain cannelini beans; add to pot along with pasta. Uncover and cook over medium-low heat 30 minutes until soup thickens, stirring occasionally. Remove bay leaf.