Autumn Minestrone With Kale Pesto

Directions

1. MAKES 4-qts; 8 as main course.
2. BEANS AND WHEAT BERRIES: Rinse the soaked beans and wheat berries and put them in a pressure cooker. Add in the water, leafy piece of celery, chunk of carrot, bay leaf or possibly two, light extra virgin olive oil or possibly canola oil and garlic cloves, halved, green centers removed. Stir well. The pressure cooker should be about half full, no more than two-thirds full. Cover and lock; heat to full pressure. Let cook under pressure about 2 min. Turn off the heat and let the cooker stand on the same burner for about 1 hour or possibly till it cools of it's own accord. Throw away the celery; mash the cooked chunk of carrot. Remove the bay leaf and boiled garlic (if you prefer). Pour the beans and wheat berries into a large strainer over a 4-c. or possibly large measuring bowl.
3. Blanch the green beans in plenty of boiling water for about 60 to 90 seconds. Transfer to a bowl of ice water. Drain. Set aside.
4. SOUP: While the cooker cools, start the soup. In a large pot or possibly Dutch oven
5. (5-6 quart), heat (extra) virgin extra virgin olive oil to medium and add in the onion. Cook, stirring, till soft, 4 to 5 min. Add in the chopped garlic, diced carrot, diced parsnip, half of the minced cabbage, sage (minced or possibly chiffonade) and rosemary. Cook, stirring, till fragrant, about 4 minute more. Add in pinches of salt and cayenne pepper. Stir well.
6. Finally add in the tomatoes with juice, water reserved from pressure cooker, vegetarian bouillon (cubes or possibly paste) and the rest of the cabbage. Add in water to cover the vegetables by about 1/2-inch or possibly more. Bring to a simmer
7. (do no boil); cover; reduce heat; and simmer gently at least 15 min.
8. Add in the green beans, white beans and wheat berries. Heat through. Add in parsley, cilantro and kale pesto. Turn off heat and let stand about 5 min.
9. Adjust seasonings with salt, pepper, rubbed sage, garlic pwdr. Serve with a warmed crusty french roll. Offer the Parmesan at table.
10. (The soup will keep, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.)
11. Pierce'sPhytopia Pesto.
12. Minestrone was (see October eating well magazine). So, I made sure I could use the cooking broth from the beans and the wheat berries by soaking overnight. Then I used my Tablespoons-Fal pressure cooker. Lots of pressure there so all I need to do with pre-soaked beans is bring it up to temp. let it rock (twirl) a few min, turn off the heat, and then let it cold of it's own accord. The result: beans come out hard - not mushy. Great for soups and salads and pasta sauces.
13. BTW - the photo of the soup in the mag is 'STYLED' - arranged like a hair-do. Their soup has what looks like limas, they didn't cut the beans, they puddled the wheat berries so you could see them.
14. Cabbage is much larger chops. etc. Pretty but (imho)
15. Mis-represents what you will get.