Summer Courgette Minestrone - Minestrone Estivo

 

This brightly coloured soup is a spirit of Summer like those Summer daze with your lover. Remember, Aperol Spritz in hand and a view of the shimmering blue waters of Lake Como and the hesitancy of what the night would unfold?
No?
Anyway back to reality it's also especially good if you have too many courgettes. The delicate flavour of that squash brings a sense and taste to gently balance the flavours leaving you dreaming of holidays past, real or imagined, whether in Tuscany or Sicily, Puglia or Rome and even beautiful Sardinia. You do remember you alighted a plane and found your Italia, don't you?

Eating this at home, and work, I can dream.

So in a pan add olive oil, add a diced onion and soften, throw in some diced cubed potato (a couple of spuds will do) then garlic and a few cherry tomatoes; halved, stir around for a bit, then add passata (or a tin of chopped Italian toms), some tomato puree, oregano, thyme, seasoning, veg or chicken stock and bubble for ten mins or so. Then add teaspoon sized pieces of courgettes. Simmer till the courgettes (zucchini) are soft. Serve with some Parmesan or Pecorino and basil leaves.

Apresto e buon appetito