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Bowl of hearty MINESTRONE SOUP filled with fresh vegetables and beans.

Minestrone Soup

A hearty and comforting minestrone soup filled with a variety of vegetables, beans, and pasta, perfect for those cozy days and ideal for meal prep.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Course, Soup
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 250
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Base Ingredients
  • 1 tablespoon Olive oil Use 1 to 2 tablespoons as needed.
  • 1 medium Onion, chopped
  • 2 medium Carrots, chopped
  • 2 stalks Celery, chopped
  • 3-4 cloves Garlic, minced Add near the end of cooking.
  • 1 tablespoon Tomato paste Cook briefly before adding liquids.
Vegetable Ingredients
  • 1 can Crushed tomatoes About 1 can.
  • 6-8 cups Broth (vegetable or chicken)
  • 1 can Beans (cannellini or kidney), drained and rinsed
  • 1-2 cups Zucchini or green beans, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon Dried oregano Plus a pinch of thyme if desired.
  • 2 big handfuls Spinach or kale Added at the very end.
Pasta Ingredients
  • 1 cup Small pasta (like ditalini) Adds heartiness to the soup.
Seasoning
  • to taste Salt and pepper Season lightly at the start.
Garnish (Optional)
  • Parmesan cheese for serving Drizzle of olive oil also enhances flavor.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
  2. Add onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté for about 8 minutes until softened.
  3. Stir in garlic and tomato paste and cook for about 1 minute.
Cooking
  1. Add crushed tomatoes, broth, herbs, and hard vegetables (like zucchini or green beans).
  2. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook until the veggies are almost tender.
  3. Stir in the drained beans.
  4. Add pasta and cook until just tender, then stir in the spinach or kale until wilted.
Finishing Touches
  1. Taste the soup and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
  2. Finish with a drizzle of olive oil or sprinkle of parmesan cheese before serving.

Notes

Store pasta separately if possible for better texture when reheating. This soup is flexible with ingredient substitutions.