Ribollita

This Italian soup is rather like minestrone, but includes beans instead of pasta. It contains healthy and cleansing combination of onions, garlic, celery, fennel, herbs and beans. Beans are low in fat and high in fiber, and can help control blood sugar levels.

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 onions, chopped
2 carrots, sliced
6-8 garlic cloves, crushed
8 celery stalks, thinly sliced
1 fennel bulb, trimmed and chopped
2 large zucchini, thinly sliced
14-ounce can chopped tomatoes
2 tablespoons pesto
3¾ cups of 1-2-3 vegetable broth
14-ounces of cooked navy or borlotti beans, drained