Alice Waters’s Seasonal Minestrone Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 cup dried cannellini or other white beans
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 2 carrots, peeled and finely chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
• 5 thyme sprigs
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 small leek, white part only, diced
• ½ pound green beans, trimmed and cut into 1-inch lengths
• 1 medium zucchini, cut into small dice
• 2 medium tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped
• 2 cups spinach, coarsely chopped
• Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving
• Pesto, for garnish (optional)