Minestrone soup
By Marianne
Minestrone Soup
Course: Lunch, DinnerCuisine: ItalianDifficulty: Easy8
servings15
minutes40
minutes300
kcalCozy up with this classic minestrone soup. This easy, healthy recipe is traditionally made with leftover vegetables and pantry items. You can be creative with what seasonal vegetables you have on hand. Spinach, potatoes, and zucchini are also options.
Ingredients
oil for sauteing*
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 medium carrot, diced
2 celery stalks, diced
1 tablespoon minced rosemary leaves
2 cloves garlic, minced
15.9 oz diced tomatoes (450G)fresh or canned
8 cups liquid(water, stock or combo)
2 15-ounce cans of kidney or navy beans
1 parmesan rind *
8 ounces fresh green beans cut in to 1/2 inch pieces ( or 1 can green beans, drained or frozen)
1 cup dried pasta ( small size - shells etc)*
chopped fresh basil or parsley fresh or dried to taste *
salt and pepper to taste
Directions
- Make the base for the soup by heating oil in a Dutch oven or stock pot. Saute onion, carrot, celery and rosemary. Season with salt and pepper. Cook the vegetables until they are softened, approximately 10 to 15 minutes. Stir to prevent burning. Add additional oil if needed.
- Add garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Add tomatoes, stir and cook until liquid had cooked down, 5-7 minutes.
- Add a choice of beans, liquid, and the parmesan rind. Bring to a boil, and then simmer. Cook additional 10 minutes or 2 hours before adding the remaining ingredients.
- Stir in the chopped herbs just before ready to serve. season to taste with salt and pepper.
Recipe Video
Notes
- Can use avocado oil for sauteing
- Can use some shredded parmesan if you do not have a parmesan rind on hand to add flavor. The rind is preferred for the recipe, but the shredded works in a pinch.
- Use a pasta with protein content. Try chickpea or lentil.
- Add fresh parsley or basil as a garnish.
- You can add a touch( teaspoon or tablespoon) of oil to the soup at the end.
- Add a teaspoon or more of squeezed lemon during towards the end of cooking the soup for added flavor.
Small Steps, Big Changes!
Hi, I’m Marianne. You might believe that making slight tweaks to your way of life won’t have much of an impact. BUT, small, consistent actions do add up over time. My goal is to inspire you, no matter where you are in your healthy journey, to build simple habits using the most recent research, recipes, and resources.