Minestrone – Vegetarian or with Pork - Lidia

Ingredients

• 1 cup dried cannellini, kidney or Great Northern beans, or chickpeas
• 1 piece (about 1 ½ pounds) smoked pork shoulder butt
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 medium onion, chopped (about 1 ½ cup)
• Salt, preferably sea salt
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped fine
• 1 cup peeled and chopped (1/4-inch) carrots
• ½ cup peeled and chopped (1/4-inch) celery, with leaves
• One 14-ounce can Italian plum tomatoes (preferably San Marzano)
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 1 large Idaho potato, peeled and diced ½ -inch (about 1 ½ cups)
• 5 quarts hot water
• 2 bay leaves
• 4 cups shredded green cabbage
• 2 small ‘fancy’ zucchini, trimmed and diced 1/2-inch (about 1 ½ cups)
• 3/4 cup ditalini or other small pasta shape, such as tubettini
• For the basil dressing:
• ½ cup (lightly packed) fresh basil leaves
• ½ cup grated Grana Padano cheese
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, or as needed
• salt