Favourite Minestra-veggie Soup With Curly Endive

Total Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• 1/2 half of whole head curly endive lettuce, a few cups' worth, roughly cut
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 carrots, minced
• 1/2 cup fresh parmesan cheese, grated
• 1 cup orzo pasta (we like whole wheat orzo) or 1 cup any other small shell pasta
• 1 shallot, diced
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• 1 liter vegetable stock (or two cups vegetable broth & two cups water)

Recipe

• 1 heat the oil in a large saucepan. add the carrots and shallot and cook over low heat, stirring frequently, for five minutes or so.
• 2 stir in the garlic, and stir-fry over medium heat for about three minutes.
• 3 pour in the vegetable stock, and bring to a boil.
• 4 stir well, cover, lower the leat and simmer for about 20 minutes; stir occasionally. add more water/stock if necessary.
• 5 add orzo/pasta, and the greens or endive to the hot soup.
• 6 simmer, stirring frequently, for about five minutes.
• 7 add the parmesan cheese, simmer for two or three minutes longer, 'til the pasta is al dente.
• 8 remove from heat and serve.