Recipe: Cool Summer Minestrone

Take the edge off summer's heat with a cool bowl of minestrone. And do it on a budget.

In this summer-friendly take on the classic Italian soup, protein-rich canned cannellini beans along with canned green beans and diced tomatoes are combined with chicken broth and instant brown rice to create a 10-minute dinner.

The secret to this soup's rich taste is the prepared pesto, which adds basil, Parmesan cheese, pine nuts and garlic, all wrapped up in one ingredient. This recipe makes four servings and costs less than $1.25 per serving.

COOL SUMMER MINESTRONE

Makes 4 servings

3/4 cup instant brown rice

3/4 cup water

1 can (16-ounce) cannellini beans, rinsed and drained

1 can (14 1/2-ounce) cut green beans, drained

1 can (14 1/2-ounce) diced tomatoes with juice

1 can (14 1/2-ounce) reduced-sodium chicken broth

1/2 cup prepared basil pesto

Salt and ground black pepper, to taste

1. In a large saucepan, combine the rice and water. Bring to simmer, cover and remove from heat. Let stand for 5 minutes.

2.Add the cannellini beans, green beans, tomatoes with juice, chicken broth and pesto. Stir well, then season with salt and pepper. Serve at room temperature.