Minestrone with Arborio Rice

• Recipe by Quick From Scratch Italian

This classic vegetable soup gets added heft from arborio rice.

Ingredients

1. 1/4 cup plus 4 teaspoons olive oil
2. 1 onion, chopped
3. 2 cloves garlic, minced
4. 2 carrots, cut into 1/4-inch dice
5. 2 ribs celery, sliced
6. 1 zucchini, cut in quarters lengthwise and then crosswise into thin slices
7. 3/4 pound green cabbage (about 1/4 head), shredded (about 3 cups)
8. 1 1/2 quarts canned low-sodium chicken broth or homemade stock
9. 1 2/3 cups drained and rinsed canned pinto beans (one 15-ounce can)
10. 1/2 cup arborio rice
11. 3/4 pound boiling potatoes (about 2), peeled and cut into 1/4-inch dice
12. 1 tablespoon tomato paste
13. 1 bay leaf
14. 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
15. 2 1/4 teaspoons salt
16. 1/4 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper
17. 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan

Directions

1. In a large pot, heat the 1/4 cup oil over moderate heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic, carrots, and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Add the zucchini and cabbage. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables start to soften, about 5 minutes longer.
2. Add the broth, beans, rice, potatoes, tomato paste, bay leaf, thyme, and salt to the pot. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, partially covered, until the rice and vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes. Remove the bay leaf.
3. Stir the pepper into the soup. Sprinkle each bowlful with Parmesan and drizzle each with 1 teaspoon of the remaining oil.