Pasta For Minestrone In Minutes

Our answer

Nigella's Minestrone In Minutes (from NIGELLA EXPRESS) is a satisfying soup that is quick to make. The recipe suggests ditalini, a small, very short type of tube pasta. However the recipe could be used with pretty much whatever pasta you have in your cupboard.

Macaroni would be fine to use, as would any small shape of pasta, just make sure that you cook it for at least the time stated on the packaging. If the soup looks like it is thickening too much as it cooks then add a little extra hot water from a freshly boiled kettle. Bear in mind also that the soup will thicken slightly more as it stands. If you have long pasta, such as spaghetti or tagliatelle, then break it into shorter strands before cooking. For larger shapes, such as penne or fusilli, you could break these up slightly by putting them in a food bag and bashing them with a rolling pin or meat mallet. You could refer to these pieces as "maltagliati", the Italian name for mis-shaped pasta (normally made from leftover offcuts from pasta making).