Companion Minestrone

• 1/2 small onion
• 1 clove garlic
• 1/2 large potato
• 1 medium carrot
• 1 small zucchini
• 1 stalk celery
• 2 leeks (white part only)
• 1/4 lb smoked bacon
• 3 Tbsp butter
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tsp basil
• 1 tsp oregano
• 6 cups chicken broth
• 1 (19 oz) can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes
• 3/4 cup dry mezzi rigatoni pasta

1. Peel and roughly chop the onion and garlic. Peel and slice the potato and carrot. Dice the zucchini, celery and leeks. Chop bacon into small pieces.

2. Place the onion and garlic in the bowl fitted with the ultrablade knife. Mix at speed 11 for 10 seconds. Replace the ultrablade knife with the mixer and add butter, bay leaf, basil, oregano and bacon. Launch the P1 simmer program at 270°F for 8 minutes.

3. Add all remaining ingredients, except the rigatoni pasta, to the bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Launch the P2 simmer program at 200°F for 1 hour. Remove bay leaf.

4. Add the pasta and relaunch the P2 simmer program at 210°F for 10 minutes. Serve with chopped basil leaves or shredded Parmesan cheese.