Hearty Italian Minestrone Soup
Classic Italian Minestrone Soup with beans, pasta, and vegetables in a rich broth. An easy, budget friendly soup ready in 30 minutes. Serves 12.
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Servings: 12
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large onion diced ~ 1 cup
- 3 carrots diced ~ 1 cup
- 3 stalks celery diced ~ 3/4 cup
- 1 medium red bell pepper diced ~ 1/2 cup
- 4 cloves garlic minced fine ~ 1 tablespoon
- 1 tablespoon oregano
- ½ tablespoon thyme
- 1 teaspoon rosemary
- ½ cup red wine optional, substitute more broth
- 15 ounces dark red kidney beans drained, rinsed
- 15 ounces Cannellini or white Northern beans drained, rinsed
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes
- 3 ounces tomato paste
- 6-8 cups vegetable broth
- 1 oz Parmesan cheese rind about 1-2″
- 4 cups fresh spinach
- 8 ounces pasta cooked, I prefer Ditalini or mini shells pasta
- salt and pepper to taste
- dash hot sauce optional
- Fresh parsley chopped for garnish *optional*
Instructions
- Cook the pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a large pot (at least 6 quarts) over medium heat.
- Add the onion, carrot, bell pepper, and celery. Stir to cook veggies until soft – roughly 3-5 minutes.
- Add garlic, spices, and wine. Stir to combine.
- Add the beans, tomatoes, tomato paste, cheese rind, and broth.
- Bring to a boil.
- Turn heat to a simmer. Simmer for 15 minutes.
- Add the spinach and pasta.
- Stir until spinach is wilted and simmer 5 minutes to combine flavors.
- Enjoy with friends, family, and crusty bread.
Notes
- Dice all the vegetables the same size so they cook evenly.
- Save your Parmesan rinds in the freezer just for soups like this.
- Puree half the white beans with broth for a creamier texture without cream.
- Cook and store the pasta separately if you're making it ahead, so it doesn't get mushy.
- Don't run to the store if you're missing a vegetable. Use what you have. That's the whole point of minestrone.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 | Calories: 223kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 0.5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 719mg | Potassium: 644mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 4363IU | Vitamin C: 26mg | Calcium: 93mg | Iron: 4mg
