Spicy Minestrone With Sausage - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 lb hot Italian sausage
1 onion
3 garlic cloves
1 large potato
1 green bell pepper
2 (16 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
1 zucchini or 1 another potato
1 teaspoon oil
1/4 cup chopped parsley
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon fennel seed
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 quart beef stock
1 (16 ounce) can kidney beans
1 cup ditanlini macaroni or 1 cup other small macaroni noodles
1/2 cup of grated parmesan cheese
salt and pepper

Preparation

Cut sausage into pieces.
Chop onion.
Mince garlic.
Dice potato and bell pepper.
Cut zucchini in quarters lengthwise and then slice.
Heat oil in a dutch oven over medium heat.
Cook sausage until browned, about 10 minutes.
Drain on paper towels, saving 1 tbs fat.
Cook onion, garlic, potato and bell pepper in fat and cook for 5 minutes.
Add sausage, tomatoes with their liquid, herbs, spices, pepper flakes, salt & pepper to taste and stock.
Bring to a boil.
Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer until potato is tender, about 30 minutes.
Stir in kidney beans with their liquid, zucchini and pasta and simmer until pasta is tender, about 20 minutes.
Taste for seasoning and add salt & pepper if needed.
Pass cheese with the soup and let guests help themselves.