Herbed Lentil Minestrone with Wild Fennel

Each of the six villages in Sardinia’s blue zones area prides itself on recipes for both summer and winter minestrone; these chunky and hearty fresh vegetable soups are made and enjoyed year-round with in-season vegetables. Not only do these fragrant soups provide several helpings of vegetables, but they also deliver a full daily dose of beans, my favorite longevity supplement. In America, we tend to eat only fennel bulbs, but Sardinians take full use of the aromatic fronds, which are also rich in antioxidants. The fresh herbs and fennel give these hearty soups a fresh and sprightly lift. You can make any of these with canned beans, but using dried beans will result in a deeper flavor. And, as longevity scientist Gianni Pes points out, a longer cooking time enhances the bioavailability of more nutrients, such as the lycopene in tomatoes, as well as carotenoids and other antioxidants.