Green Minestra

Naturally, the green minestra is a tasty and nutritious dish, perfect as both an appetizer and a first course. Here is the classic Italian recipe.

Ingredients

• 300 g of Swiss chard or spinach
• 1 medium onion
• 1 stalk of celery
• 1 carrot
• 200 g of potatoes
• 1.5 liters of vegetable or meat broth
• 100 g of rice (preferably Carnaroli or Vialone Nano)
• 50 g of butter
• 50 g of grated Parmigiano
• Extra virgin olive oil to taste
• Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

1. Clean the Swiss chard or spinach by removing the tougher parts. Wash the leaves thoroughly under running water and dry them.

2. Finely chop the onion, celery, and carrot to create a mirepoix. Dice the potatoes.

3. In a large pot, heat a drizzle of oil and add the chopped onion, celery, and carrot. Gently fry until they are soft and translucent.

4. Add the diced potatoes and the Swiss chard or spinach, mix and let it flavor for a few minutes.

5. Pour the broth into the pot. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to let it simmer.

6. When the vegetables are tender, about after 20 minutes, add the washed and drained rice.

7. Cook according to the time indicated on the rice package (approximately 15-18 minutes), making sure it does not stick to the bottom of the pot. Season with salt and pepper during cooking.

8. Once the rice is cooked, turn off the heat and add the butter in pieces and the grated Parmigiano. Mix well to cream the minestra.

9. Let it rest a few minutes before serving.

Curiosity

Green minestra is a very versatile recipe, which can be easily adapted based on the seasonality and availability of green vegetables. For a more rustic touch, in some areas of Italy, legumes such as beans or lentils are also added.