Minestrone alla Genovese

This minestrone is a soup of vegetables and rice or pasta, which is distinguished from a mere vegetable stew by two culinary operations. In the first place some of the vegetables and herbs are gently sautéd in olive oil before adding the stock in which they are subsequently simmered, and in the second, it is enriched by the addition of pesto, a Genoese invention which consists of grated parmesan, finely chopped basil, and a garlic clove, all pounded together, and combin