Penne Rigate Pasta Vegetable Soup with Parmigiano-Reggiano

Another inspiration brought back from our visit to Italy! I tried this earlier with Gruyere Cheese but I think Gruyere goes better with other kinds of soups like French Onion and the like!

You need:

• 2 cups of fresh vegetables - cubed carrots, diced cabbage, chopped celery, green peas(optional), cooked and drained kidney beans, chopped green beans)
• 2 cups of cooked Penne Rigate Pasta
• 3 cloves of garlic minced or grated
• 1 peeled and diced tomato (place the tomato in boiling water for a minute and run under cool water to enable the peeling process)
• 1/2 tbsp dried parsley
• 1/2 tsp dried basil
• 1/2 tsp Oregano (optional)
• 1 cup tomato puree ( http://gginaflavorspalatte.blogspot.in/2012/05/homemade-tomato-puree.html)
• Salt to taste
• 1 block of Parmigiano-Reggiano
• Drizzle of Extravirgin (I used Extravergine Albano) olive oil
• 2 cups of boiled, cooked water
• 1 cube of veg stock (or beef or chicken as per your choice). You can also make this from scratch or avoid it as the veggies will bring out the flavor in the soup.
• 1 egg - beaten with 1/2 tbsp dried parsley, grated parmesan and some pepper

Method:

Cooking Time: 20-30 minutes| Preparation Time: 5 minutes| Serves 2 adults

1. Add a drizzle of olive oil in a deep-bottomed non-stick pan.

2. Saute the veggies(except the kidney beans) and half cook.

3. Add 2 cups of boiled cooled water and stock cube.

4. Add the diced tomatoes and puree, followed by the dried parsley, basil and oregano(optional) and salt and pepper. Cover the lid and run to a boil.

6. Lower the heat, uncover and slowly add the egg stirring all the time.

7. Add the beans and pasta and saute well. Do a seasoning taste test and add more salt or pepper if required.  

Penne Rigate Pasta Vegetable soup topped with Parmigian Reggiano

8. Serve into two bowls and grate some parmigian reggiano over each bowl of soup. Your soup is ready to be served!

Close up of the Penne Rigate Veggie Soup

Bon Appetit!