Melis Family Minestrone

Ingredients

• 7 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil divided
• 1 white onion or medium yellow, chopped, about 1 cup
• 2 medium carrots peeled and chopped, about 2⁄3 cup
• 2 celery stalks medium, chopped, about ½ cup
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 28 ounces crushed tomatoes
• 3 yellow potatoes medium, peeled and diced, about 1½ cups
• 1 1/2 cups fennel chopped, bulbs, stalks, and fronds
• flat leaf parsley leaves Italian, chopped
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves
• 1/2 cup fava beans dried and peeled, soaked overnight, or one 15-ounce can, drained
• 1/2 cup cranberry beans dried, soaked overnight, or one 15-ounce can, drained
• 1/3 cup dried chickpeas soaked overnight, or ½ 15-ounce can, drained
• 8 cups water
• 2/3 cup fregula Sardinian, Israeli couscous, or acini di pepe pasta
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Nutrition

• Calories : 290 calories
• Carbohydrate : 36 grams
• Fat : 12 grams
• Fiber : 11 grams
• Protein : 10 grams
• SaturatedFat : 1.5 grams
• Sodium : 330 milligrams
• Sugar : 3 grams