classic Italian Minestrone soup recipe

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Ingredients :

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 cups chopped onion
• 4 cloves minced garlic
• 1 chopped celery stalk
• 1 chopped medium carrot
• 1 tspn minced oregano
• 1 tspn minced basil
• ½ tspn minced rosemary
• ½ tspn black pepper
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 cup chopped zucchini
• 5 cups vegetable stock and/or water
• 2 cups soaked and cooked garbanzo or other beans
• 1 cup dry pasta
• 2 cups chopped tomatoes
• minced parsley (optional)
• grated parmesan cheese (optional)

Preparation and Cooking Instructions :

1. Sauté the onion and garlic in the olive oil for 5 minutes. Add celery, carrot, and herbs, then cover and simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. Add the zucchini and stock/water, then cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Add beans and simmer for 5 more minutes.
3. Bring the soup to a boil, add pasta, and cook, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender (7-10 minutes). Stir in the tomatoes and serve, topped with parsley and/or parmesan cheese.