Minestrone soup is a classic Italian vegetable soup that is hearty, healthy, and easy to make. It's a perfect meal for a cold winter day or any day you're looking for a comforting, nutritious soup. This easy minestrone soup recipe is packed with vegetables, beans, and pasta, making it a complete meal in a bowl.
How To Make:
To make this soup, start by sautéing diced onions and garlic in a large pot with some olive oil. Then add diced carrots, celery, and zucchini and cook until the vegetables are tender. Add canned diced tomatoes, vegetable broth, and a variety of canned beans, such as kidney beans, cannellini beans, and chickpeas. Season the soup with dried Italian herbs, salt, and pepper.
Let the soup simmer for about 20 minutes until the flavors are well combined. Then add some small pasta shapes, such as ditalini or elbow macaroni, and cook until the pasta is tender. Finally, stir in some chopped fresh spinach and cook until the spinach is wilted.
This easy minestrone soup is versatile and can be customized to your liking. If you prefer a thicker soup, add more pasta or beans. You can also add other vegetables, such as potatoes or butternut squash. Top the soup with grated Parmesan cheese and serve it with some crusty bread for a complete meal.
Tips and Variations:
Tips:
Use a variety of vegetables: Use a mix of vegetables such as zucchini, carrots, celery, onion, bell peppers, and tomatoes to add flavor and texture to the soup.
Add leafy greens: Adding leafy greens like spinach, kale, or Swiss chard can add a pop of color and nutrients to the soup. Add them towards the end of cooking to avoid overcooking.
Use canned beans: Canned beans like kidney beans, cannellini beans, or chickpeas are a quick and easy way to add protein and fiber to the soup.
Use chicken or vegetable broth: Use chicken or vegetable broth to add flavor and depth to the soup. If using store-bought broth, look for low-sodium or no-salt-added options.
Customize the soup to your taste: Add more or less of the ingredients to adjust the soup to your liking. For added flavor, you can also add various herbs and spices.
Variations:
Lentil minestrone: Use lentils instead of beans to make a heartier soup. Cook the lentils separately and add them to the soup towards the end of cooking.
Meat-based minestrone: Add ground beef, sausage, or diced chicken to the soup for a meaty version. Brown the meat first and cook it with the vegetables.
Vegetarian minestrone: Skip the meat and add more vegetables and beans to make a vegetarian version of the soup. Use vegetable broth or water to keep it vegetarian.
Pasta-less minestrone: Omit the pasta or use gluten-free pasta to make a low-carb or gluten-free version of the soup.
Slow cooker minestrone: Make the soup in a slow cooker for an easy and hands-off meal. Combine all the ingredients in the slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 stalks of celery, diced
- 2 carrots, diced
- 1 zucchini, diced
- 1 can dice tomatoes
- 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup of little pasta (such as ditalini or elbow macaroni)
- 2 cups spinach leaves, chopped
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
Instructions:
In a big pot, warm the olive oil over medium heat. Cook the onion and garlic for two to three minutes, or until aromatic.
Add the celery, carrots, and zucchini and cook until the vegetables are tender about 5-7 minutes.
Bring the soup to a boil before adding the tinned tomatoes and broth. Turn down the heat to low and simmer the soup for 10 to 15 minutes.
Add the kidney beans and pasta and cook until the pasta is tender, about 10 minutes.
Stir in the chopped spinach and let it wilt for about 2-3 minutes.
When making the soup, season with salt and pepper to taste. If preferred, top the steaming soup with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
This recipe makes about 6 servings. You can adjust the recipe according to your preference and add other ingredients like herbs, spices, or different vegetables to make the soup more flavorful.