Minestrone is a classic Italian soup that is typically made with vegetables, beans, and pasta. It is a hearty and flavorful soup that is perfect for a cold winter day or a light summer lunch. This article provides three different recipes for minestrone soup, each with its own unique flavor profile. The first recipe is a traditional Italian minestrone soup made with a variety of vegetables, beans, and pasta. The second recipe is a Tuscan minestrone soup that features kale, cannellini beans, and sausage. The third recipe is a summer minestrone soup that is made with fresh vegetables and herbs. All three recipes are easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste preferences. So whether you are looking for a classic Italian soup or a lighter summer soup, you are sure to find a minestrone recipe in this article that you will enjoy.
Here are our top 8 tried and tested recipes!
THE BEST MINESTRONE
While it's positively packed with vegetables, this soup is still hearty and filling. We rendered the fat from pancetta and used it to cook the vegetables to add more depth of flavor. The addition of white beans and pasta help make it a meal.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories main-dish
Time 1h
Yield 6 to 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Heat the oil in a Dutch oven or large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add the pancetta and cook, stirring occasionally, until the fat has rendered and the meat is golden brown on all sides, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer the pancetta with a slotted spoon to a large bowl, leaving the fat in the pot.
- Reduce the heat to medium. Add the carrots, celery, onions, garlic, bay leaves, red pepper flakes, 4 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender but not browned, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the potatoes and zucchini and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly softened, about 5 minutes. Return the pancetta to the pot, stir in the tomatoes and 8 cups water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes are just tender, about 20 minutes.
- Add the kale, beans and their liquid and pasta and continue to cook until the pasta is cooked through and the kale is tender, about 10 minutes. Discard the bay leaves and season with more salt and pepper if necessary. Serve with grated Parmesan.
CLASSIC MINESTRONE SOUP
Warm up with this vegetarian minestrone soup! This classic minestrone soup recipe is healthy, easy to make, and tastes incredible. It's vegan, too, if you don't top it with cheese. Recipe yields 6 bowls or 8 cups of soup.
Provided by Cookie and Kate
Categories Soup
Time 1h5m
Number Of Ingredients 21
Steps:
- Warm 3 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or stockpot over medium heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the chopped onion, carrot, celery, tomato paste and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring often, until the vegetables have softened and the onions are turning translucent, about 7 to 10 minutes.
- Add the seasonal vegetables, garlic, oregano and thyme. Cook until fragrant while stirring frequently, about 2 minutes.
- Pour in the diced tomatoes and their juices, broth and water. Add the salt, bay leaves and red pepper flakes. Season generously with freshly ground black pepper.
- Raise heat to medium-high and bring the mixture to a boil, then partially cover the pot with the lid, leaving about a 1" gap for steam to escape. Reduce heat as necessary to maintain a gentle simmer.
- Cook for 15 minutes, then remove the lid and add the pasta, beans and greens. Continue simmering, uncovered, for 20 minutes or until the the pasta is cooked al dente and the greens are tender.
- Remove the pot from the heat, then remove the bay leaves. Stir in the lemon juice and remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Taste and season with more salt (I usually add about 1/4 teaspoon more) and pepper until the flavors really sing. Garnish bowls of soup with grated Parmesan, if you'd like.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 bowl (made with potatoes and no Parmesan), Calories 298 calories, Sugar 9.7 g, Sodium 924.2 mg, Fat 10.5 g, SaturatedFat 1.6 g, TransFat 0 g, Carbohydrate 45.6 g, Fiber 10.4 g, Protein 9.8 g, Cholesterol 0 mg
CLASSIC MINESTRONE SOUP
Minestrone is a hearty, traditional Italian soup typically made with beans, pasta and lots of vegetables. Enjoy the slow-cooked flavor in just about 30 minutes.
Provided by College Inn® Broths and Stocks
Categories Trusted Brands: Recipes and Tips College Inn® Broths and Stocks
Time 35m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Heat olive oil in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Cook onion, carrot, celery, garlic and rosemary until vegetables begin to soften, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in tomato sauce, beans and 2 1/2 cups water. Add broth, zucchini, pasta and pepper; bring to a simmer. Cook, uncovered, 10 minutes or until pasta is tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in parsley. Serve topped with Parmesan cheese and additional parsley, if desired.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 235.3 calories, Carbohydrate 38.6 g, Cholesterol 0.3 mg, Fat 4.8 g, Fiber 8.4 g, Protein 9.6 g, SaturatedFat 0.6 g, Sodium 1220.5 mg, Sugar 5.9 g
CONTEST-WINNING EASY MINESTRONE
This minestrone soup recipe is special to me because it's one of the few dinners my entire family loves. And I can feel good about serving it because it's full of nutrition and low in fat. -Lauren Brennan, Hood River, Oregon
Provided by Taste of Home
Time 1h5m
Yield 11 servings (2-3/4 quarts).
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- In a large saucepan, saute the carrots, celery and onion in oil and butter until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer., Stir in the broth, tomato sauce, beans, chickpeas, tomatoes, cabbage, basil, parsley, oregano and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Add macaroni; cook, uncovered, 6-8 minutes or until macaroni and vegetables are tender., Ladle soup into bowls. Sprinkle with cheese. Freeze option: Before adding cheese, freeze cooled soup in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a saucepan, stirring occasionally and adding a little broth or water if necessary.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 180 calories, Fat 4g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 4mg cholesterol, Sodium 443mg sodium, Carbohydrate 29g carbohydrate (7g sugars, Fiber 7g fiber), Protein 8g protein. Diabetic Exchanges
QUICK MINESTRONE
Minestrone doesn't have to be a long-simmering project. Adding pancetta means that the soup develops full flavor quickly, and the vegetables stay tender and tasty. To jump-start the recipe, use a food processor to get the soup base going, and then start prepping the vegetables. Canned beans are great for this recipe, but don't use other canned or frozen vegetables here -- the key to a good minestrone is the fusion of the fresh vegetable flavors.
Provided by Julia Moskin
Categories soups and stews, main course
Time 1h
Yield 6 to 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Make the soup base: In a medium-size heavy soup pot, combine the oil and pancetta over medium-low heat to slowly render the fat and cook the pancetta, stirring occasionally.
- Meanwhile, in a food processor, combine the onion or shallots, celery and carrot. Pulse until finely chopped. Add to pot with cooked pancetta and adjust heat so the vegetables soften and cook without browning, stirring occasionally, 8 to 10 minutes.
- Add the other vegetables: Stirring after each addition, add the kale or cabbage, celery, carrots, zucchini, beans and tomatoes. Season generously with salt and pepper.
- Add the stock and 1 cup water (or, if you prefer a soup that's not as thick, add additional stock to taste, up to 2 cups). Add the herb sprigs. Cover, raise the heat and bring to a full boil. Uncover, lower the heat to a bubbly simmer, and cook 30 minutes, or until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally. Taste and adjust the seasonings with salt and pepper. Remove the herb sprigs.
- Serve in bowls, drizzling a little olive oil and sprinkling a big pinch of cheese over each serving.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 325, UnsaturatedFat 12 grams, Carbohydrate 34 grams, Fat 16 grams, Fiber 8 grams, Protein 13 grams, SaturatedFat 3 grams, Sodium 743 milligrams, Sugar 7 grams, TransFat 0 grams
SIMPLE ITALIAN MINESTRONE SOUP
Simple and hearty Italian minestrone soup, brimming with vegetables, beans and a little pasta. The draw here is in the thick, flavorful tomato broth with piney rosemary, lots of fresh herbs, and Parmesan rind (a secret ingredient that Italian grandmothers have been using for years to flavor their soups)!
Provided by Suzy Karadsheh
Categories Soup
Number Of Ingredients 20
Steps:
- In a large Dutch oven, heat the extra virgin olive oil over medium heat until shimmering but not smoking. Add onions, carrots and celery. Raise heat to medium-high, if you need to, and cook, tossing regularly, until the veggies soften a bit (about 5 minutes or so). Add the garlic and cook another minute, tossing regularly.
- Add the zucchini or yellow squash and green beans. Season with paprika, rosemary, and a generous pinch of kosher salt and pepper. Toss to combine.
- Now add the crushed tomatoes, broth, fresh thyme, bay leaf and Parmesan rind (if using.) Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a gentle simmer and partially cover the pot. Let simmer for about 20 minutes or so.
- Uncover the pot and add the kidney beans. Cook for another 5 to 10 minutes.
- Finally, Stir in the parsley and fresh basil. And, if serving immediately, stir in the cooked pasta and simmer ever so briefly till the pasta is warmed through; do not overcook. (See Cook's Tip #2)
- Remove the cheese rind and bay leaf. Taste and adjust seasoning to your liking. Serve the minestrone hot in dinner bowls with a sprinkle of grated Parmesan (optional.)
Nutrition Facts : Calories 211.9 kcal, SaturatedFat 1.5 g, Carbohydrate 26.7 g, Fiber 7.4 g, Protein 6.8 g, Cholesterol 0.7 mg, ServingSize 1 serving
SUMMER MINESTRONE WITH FRESH BASIL
You can finish this hearty summer soup with slivered fresh basil, or with pistou, the Provençal version of pesto (it's pesto without the pine nuts). A Parmesan rind, simmered in the soup and then removed, adds great depth of flavor without adding fat. On a hot summer day in Italy the soup might be served at room temperature, or just barely warm.
Provided by Martha Rose Shulman
Time 1h20m
Yield 6 to 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Heat the olive oil over medium-low heat in a large, heavy soup pot or Dutch oven and add the onion, carrots, and celery. Cook, stirring, until beginning to soften, about 3 minutes, and add 1/2 teaspoon salt. Continue to cook, stirring often, until tender, about 5 more minutes. Add the garlic, stir together for about a minute, and stir in the tomatoes. Cook, stirring, until the tomatoes have cooked down and smell fragrant, about 10 minutes. Stir in 2 quarts water, the turnip, zucchini, and the bouquet garni, and bring to a simmer. Add 2 teaspoons salt, reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer 45 minutes. Stir in the canned beans. Taste and adjust salt. Remove the bouquet garni.
- While the soup is simmering, bring a pot of salted water to a boil and add the green beans. Boil 5 minutes, until just tender but still bright green. Transfer to a bowl of ice water, allow to cool, and drain. Retain the cooking water in case you want to thin out the soup later.
- Add the pasta to the soup and simmer another 10 minutes, or until the pasta is cooked al dente. Stir the cooked green beans into the soup. Grind in some pepper and taste and adjust seasonings. It should be savory and rich-tasting.
- Stir in the basil or pistou, or place a spoonful of pistou in each bowl and stir in. Serve in wide soup bowls, with a sprinkling of Parmesan over the top.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 146, UnsaturatedFat 2 grams, Carbohydrate 26 grams, Fat 2 grams, Fiber 6 grams, Protein 7 grams, SaturatedFat 0 grams, Sodium 547 milligrams, Sugar 6 grams
CLASSIC MINESTRONE SOUP
Whip up this classic Italian vegetable soup with a rich tomato base and pasta. It's low in calories and packed with fibre and vitamin C
Provided by Esther Clark
Categories Lunch, Starter
Time 1h5m
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Heat the oil in a large saucepan or casserole pot over a low-medium heat and gently fry the onion, celery, carrot, courgette and pancetta for 10 mins. Add the garlic and oregano, and cook for 1 min. Tip in the beans, chopped tomatoes, purée, stock and bay leaf. Season to taste. Bring to the simmer and cook for 30 mins.
- Add the pasta and greens, and cook for a further 10 mins. Ladle into bowls and scatter with the basil and some parmesan.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 225 calories, Fat 10 grams fat, SaturatedFat 2 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 22 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 8 grams sugar, Fiber 7 grams fiber, Protein 9 grams protein, Sodium 0.98 milligram of sodium
Tips:
- Use fresh, seasonal vegetables: This will give your minestrone the best flavor and nutrition.
- Don't be afraid to experiment with different vegetables: There are many different vegetables that can be used in minestrone, so feel free to get creative and try new things.
- Use a good quality broth: The broth is the base of your minestrone, so it's important to use a good one. Look for a broth that is low in sodium and made with real ingredients.
- Season your minestrone to taste: Minestrone should be flavorful, but not too salty. Start with a small amount of salt and pepper, and then add more to taste.
- Garnish your minestrone with fresh herbs: Fresh herbs, such as basil, parsley, or oregano, will add a pop of flavor and color to your minestrone.
Conclusion:
Minestrone is a delicious and versatile soup that can be enjoyed all year round. It's a great way to use up leftover vegetables, and it's also a hearty and filling meal. With so many different variations to choose from, there's sure to be a minestrone recipe that everyone will love. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy meal, give minestrone a try. You won't be disappointed!
Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »
You'll also love