Minestrone soup, a hearty and flavorful Italian soup, is a delicious and versatile dish that is perfect for a comforting meal. Made with a combination of fresh vegetables, beans, pasta, and broth, minestrone is a great way to enjoy the goodness of a variety of ingredients in one bowl. This article offers three delicious minestrone soup recipes, each with its own unique flavor profile. The classic minestrone recipe features a rich tomato broth, while the vegetarian minestrone recipe is a lighter and healthier option. For those who love a bit of spice, the spicy minestrone recipe adds a kick of heat to the traditional flavors. No matter which recipe you choose, you're sure to enjoy the delicious and comforting flavors of minestrone soup.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
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
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
Tips:
- Use a variety of vegetables. This will give your soup more flavor and texture. Some good choices include carrots, celery, onions, zucchini, green beans, and potatoes.
- Don't be afraid to experiment with different beans. There are many different types of beans that you can use in minestrone soup, such as cannellini beans, kidney beans, and black beans. Each type of bean has its own unique flavor and texture, so experiment until you find a combination that you like.
- Add some pasta or rice. This will help to make the soup more filling and satisfying. You can use any type of pasta or rice that you like, but short, sturdy pastas like elbow macaroni or penne work particularly well.
- Season the soup to taste. Use salt, pepper, and other herbs and spices to taste. Some good choices include basil, oregano, thyme, and rosemary.
- Let the soup simmer for at least 30 minutes. This will allow the flavors to meld and the vegetables to soften.
- Serve the soup hot, garnished with grated Parmesan cheese and a drizzle of olive oil.
Conclusion:
Minestrone soup is a delicious and hearty soup that is perfect for a cold winter day. It is also a very versatile soup, so you can easily customize it to your own liking. With a few simple tips, you can make a minestrone soup that is sure to please everyone at your table.
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