Light Yet Delicious Summertime Meal

Abruzzo Summer Minestrone

Summer, the heat, and warm nights are here. Here is an idea for a light, yet delicious midsummer soup.

Ingredients:

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

Instructions:

Melt the butter in the oven set over medium-high heat. Add carrots, garlic and onions 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.