Feast your senses on Minestrone, a classic Italian soup that bursts with vibrant flavors and wholesome goodness. This hearty and versatile dish is a symphony of fresh vegetables, tender beans, and aromatic herbs, simmered in a rich, flavorful broth. With each spoonful, you'll embark on a culinary journey through Italy's culinary heritage. In this comprehensive guide, we present a collection of delectable Minestrone recipes that cater to diverse dietary preferences and culinary expertise. From a traditional Minestrone alla Genovese to a vegan Minestrone packed with nutritious plant-based ingredients and a delightful Minestrone with Parmesan Rind adding a savory depth of flavor, these recipes promise to satisfy every palate.
Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!
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
ITALIAN MINESTRONE SOUP
Nothing says more "comfort food" than thick, creamy Minestrone Soup.Italian Minestrone soup is made with seasonal veggies, legumes and small pasta shape or rice.
Provided by Italian Recipe Book
Categories Soup
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- In a large pot add a generous drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, roughly chopped onion, carrots, celery, garlic clove, and pancetta cubes. Sautee on medium heat for a few minutes stirring a couple of times in the process.
- Add potatoes, butternut squash, tomatoes, bay leaf, rosemary sprigs and a couple of pinches of salt.
- Give a nice stir and add enough water to cover all the veggies.Bring to a boil and simmer on low heat for 40 minutes. Add more liquid if needed.
- Past this time veggies will become super soft and will "melt" one into another creating delicious creamy texture.
- Once veggies are cooked add chopped savoy cabbage or other leafy greens and drained canned beans. Add more water if needed. Give a nice stir and cook for another 15 minutes.
- As a last step, add pasta or rice. Let cook for 5-15 more minutes depending on how long pasta or rice will take to cook.
- If you're not planning to serve minestrone right away, don't add pasta or rice immediately.Instead, bring the soup to a boil when you're ready to serve it and then add pasta or rice.
- Minestrone is ready to serve when pasta (rice) is cooked. I takes about 5-6 minutes for ditalini pasta and about 15 minutes for rice.
- Serve hot or warm generously topped with fresh grated Parmesan cheese.
HEARTY MINESTRONE WITH PARMESAN RIND
Parmesan cheese rind adds incredible flavour to minestrone. Can garnish soup with pesto and/or parmesan cheese crisps
Provided by Abby Girl
Categories Beans
Time 8h20m
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 21
Steps:
- Crostini: In bowl, toss together bread, oil and pepper; spread on rimmed baking sheet. Bake in 400 oven, tossing once until golden and crisp, 6 - 8 minutes. (Can make ahead).
- Cook pasta before adding to soup.
- Soup: Saute onion, celery, carrots, garlic, bay leaves, salt and pepper for about 5 - 8 minutes or until cooked. Scrape into slow cooker.
- Stir in tomato paste, ham hock, parmesan rind, potato, red and white beans and water. Cover and cook on low for 6 - 8 hours or until ham can be pulled off bone easily. Discard bay leaves and Paremesan rind.
- Increase heat to high. Stir in red pepper and zucchini; cook, covered for 20 minutes.
- Stir in cooked pasta.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 268.9, Fat 7.7, SaturatedFat 1.1, Sodium 583.4, Carbohydrate 43.8, Fiber 7.5, Sugar 6.8, Protein 9.2
WINTER MINESTRONE
Provided by Giada De Laurentiis
Categories main-dish
Time 55m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Heat the oil in a heavy large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, celery, pancetta, and garlic. Saute until the onion is translucent, about 10 minutes. Add the Swiss chard and potato; saute for 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and rosemary sprig. Simmer until the chard is wilted and the tomatoes break down, about 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, blend 3/4 cup of the beans with 1/4 cup of the broth in a processor until almost smooth. Add the pureed bean mixture, remaining broth, and Parmesan cheese rind to the vegetable mixture. Simmer until the potato pieces are tender, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes. Stir in the whole beans and parsley. Simmer until the beans are heated through and the soup is thick, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Discard Parmesan rind and rosemary sprig (the leaves will have fallen off of the stem.)
- Ladle the soup into bowls and serve.
LUCINDA'S MINESTRONE
Adding a rind of Parmesan cheese brings a rich flavor to this meatless soup.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Soups, Stews & Stocks Soup Recipes
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Place 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, the onion, and garlic in a large heavy-bottomed soup pot over medium heat. Cook slowly, stirring occasionally, until the onion is translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the zucchini and the celery and keep cooking, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes more. Add another tablespoon of the olive oil and the cauliflower and cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, as the vegetables slowly begin to soften. Stir in the green beans, cabbage, and remaining olive oil and cook, stirring occasionally, for another 2 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes and 2 cups water and simmer until all of the vegetables are softened, 5 to 8 minutes more.
- Add the salt, pepper, and Parmesan cheese rind and stir. Add more water if needed for the desired consistency -- it should be very thick. Cover and simmer 30 minutes. Add the chickpeas and basil sprigs and cook until chickpeas are heated through, 5 to 6 minutes. Serve in bowls with the Parmesan cheese grated over top and freshly ground pepper, and drizzle with olive oil.
Tips:
- Use a variety of vegetables to create a flavorful and colorful minestrone. Some good options include carrots, celery, onions, potatoes, zucchini, green beans, and tomatoes.
- To add depth of flavor to the soup, use a combination of vegetable broth and water. You can also add a parmesan rind, which will add a rich, cheesy flavor.
- If you want a heartier soup, add some cooked beans or lentils. You can also add some cooked pasta or rice.
- Season the soup to taste with salt, pepper, and dried oregano.
- Serve the soup with a sprinkle of grated parmesan cheese and a drizzle of olive oil.
Conclusion:
Minestrone is a delicious and versatile soup that can be enjoyed all year round. It is a great way to use up leftover vegetables, and it is also a very economical meal. With its simple ingredients and easy preparation, minestrone is a perfect soup for busy weeknights.
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