Sam Chao's Recipes

MINESTRONE SOUP 

3 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 white or yellow onion, chopped
1 carrot, sliced
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
3 cups roughly chopped Swiss chard leaves
4 ounces small pasta shells (about 1 heaping cup)
4 ounces green beans, cut into 1-inch pieces (about 1 cup)
1 teaspoon dried oregano
One 16-ounce jar tomato and sausage pasta sauce
One 15-ounce can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
1 yellow summer squash, sliced into half-moons
1 zucchini, sliced into half-moons
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, torn
Freshly grated Parmesan, for serving


How to make this recipe.

Melt the butter in a Dutch oven set over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, onions and carrots and cook, stirring often, until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Season lightly with salt and pepper.

Stir in the chicken broth, chard, pasta, green beans, oregano, pasta sauce, cannellini beans, squash, zucchini, 1 cup water, 2 teaspoons salt and several grinds of pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook until the pasta is cooked and the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes.

Divide among 6 bowls and top with the torn basil and Parmesan.