Award-winning chef. Successful restaurateur. Iron Chef judge. Social media star. Donatella Arpaia has done it all. Still her favorite thing to do is working in the kitchen, creating inspiring dishes using the freshest, most authentic ingredients—including Galbani® cheese. Explore her latest menu ideas and learn tricks of the trade from this inspirational entrepreneur.

Galbani® Rich & Rustic Minestrone

INGREDIENTS

For the Soup

2 tbsp. Premium extra virgin olive oil
2 Medium carrots, diced
2 Celery stalks, diced
1 Medium onion, diced
3 cloves Garlic, minced
¾ cup Dry white wine
1 Medium zucchini, diced
15 oz. Fire roasted/canned diced tomatoes
6 cups Vegetable broth
1” piece Parmesan rind
2 cans Cannellini beans (15 oz.), drained and rinsed
1 tsp. Dried thyme
2 cups Fresh kale or spinach, roughly chopped
4–6 Fresh basil leaves, torn
1 cup Short-style pasta, such as cavatelli or Sardinian pasta
  Kosher salt, to taste
  Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  Fresh Italian parsley, for garnish
   

For the Cheesy Bread

4 slices Italian rustic bread loaf, cut to ¾” thick
2 tbsp. Premium extra virgin olive oil
  Kosher salt, to taste
  Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  Galbani Premio Mozzarella, shredded, for topping
  Galbani Parmesan, grated, for topping
  Fresh thyme or parsley, for garnish
   

METHOD

For the Soup

  1. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat, add carrots and celery, sauté for 5 minutes, then add onions and garlic. Continue to slowly sauté until soft and fragrant. Add a dash of salt.

  2. Pour in the white wine to deglaze the pot, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Let the wine reduce by half, about 3–4 minutes.

  3. Add zucchini, tomatoes, broth, and Parmesan rind. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cook for 25 minutes.

  4. Puree 1 can of beans and leave the other can whole. Stir the bean puree and whole beans into the pot. Simmer for a few minutes. Add thyme.

  5. Stir in kale (or spinach) and basil. Let the kale wilt. Season with salt and pepper as needed. Remove Parmesan rind.

  6. Cook pasta separately and add before serving.


For the Cheesy Bread

  1. Preheat grill and broiler. Drizzle bread slices with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill until crispy and golden, about 2–3 minutes.

  2. Generously top each slice with Mozzarella and Parmesan. Broil until cheese melts and is bubbly with a golden crust.

  3. Drizzle olive oil on top and garnish with thyme or parsley.

  4. Ladle the soup into bowls. Top each with a slice of cheesy bread. Sprinkle additional Parmesan on top and add parsley or thyme for garnish.

 

Donatella's Tips

Pairings

  • Wine & Spirits
  • Beer
  • Proteins
  • Fruits & Vegetables
  • Nuts, Grains & Starches
  • Flavors, Spices & Condiments