Serves 6

INGREDIENTS

For spring vegetable minestrone

3 tablespoons olive oil
1 yellow onion, chopped small
3 cloves garlic, chopped fine
6 cups vegetable stock
1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped fine
3 carrots, chopped medium
3 celery ribs, chopped medium
5 asparagus stalks, trimmed and cut into ½-inch pieces
1 cup green beans, trimmed and cut into ½-inch pieces
1 cup fresh English peas
1 (15 oz) can cannellini beans, rined
1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes
2 cups arugula leaves, chopped

For the herb pesto

1 cup fresh parsley leaves
2 cups fresh basil leaves
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
Juice and zest of 1 lemon
½ cup extra-virgin olive oil

DIRECTIONS

For the soup

In a large soup pot over medium heat, add olive oil. Cook onions until soft and translucent, about 5-7 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more. Add vegetable stock, carrots, celery, asparagus and green beans. Season with salt. Increase heat to a simmer and cook until vegetables are almost soft, about 20 minutes. Add peas, beans, and tomatoes and cook 10 minutes more. Add arugula and cook just until wilted. Serve soup drizzled with herb pesto.

For the herb pesto

Place all ingredients, except olive oil, in blender. Stream in olive oil while blending and combine.