**Minnesota Minestrone: A Hearty and Flavorful Soup for Every Occasion**
When the weather outside is chilly, there's nothing quite like a warm and hearty bowl of soup to warm you up. Minestrone is a classic Italian soup that is packed with vegetables, beans, and pasta. This Minnesota version adds a few unique ingredients that give it a hearty and flavorful twist.
This hearty and flavorful soup is a great way to use up leftover vegetables and beans. It's also a great source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. The soup is made with a variety of vegetables, including carrots, celery, onions, garlic, potatoes, and tomatoes. It also includes beans, such as kidney beans and cannellini beans. The soup is seasoned with Italian herbs and spices, such as basil, oregano, thyme, and rosemary. The unique ingredients in this Minnesota Minestrone recipe are wild rice and bacon. Wild rice adds a nutty flavor and chewy texture to the soup, while bacon adds a smoky and savory flavor. The soup is also thickened with a mixture of flour and butter, which gives it a creamy and rich texture. This recipe also includes instructions for making homemade croutons, which are the perfect addition to a bowl of Minestrone. The croutons are made with bread cubes that are tossed with olive oil, garlic, and herbs, then baked until golden brown.
Whether you're looking for a hearty and nutritious meal or a comforting soup to warm you up on a cold day, this Minnesota Minestrone is the perfect choice. With its flavorful broth, tender vegetables, and hearty beans, this soup is sure to satisfy. So grab a bowl and a spoon, and enjoy!
**Recipes included in the article:**
* Minnesota Minestrone
* Homemade Croutons
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.
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
MINESTRONE
Vegetables and herbs fresh from my garden make this one of our favorite soups. This recipe makes a lot, so it's perfect for large gatherings or to freeze in smaller containers for fast meals.-Virginia Bauer, Botkins, Ohio
Provided by Taste of Home
Time 1h50m
Yield 20 servings (5 quarts).
Number Of Ingredients 20
Steps:
- In a stockpot, saute the onions, celery and parsley in oil until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the broth, tomatoes, tomato sauce, cabbage, carrots, basil, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1 hour. , In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir into soup along with the zucchini, beans and pasta. Cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until vegetables and pasta are tender. Top each serving with cheese.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 209 calories, Fat 9g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 26mg cholesterol, Sodium 538mg sodium, Carbohydrate 19g carbohydrate (5g sugars, Fiber 4g fiber), Protein 14g protein.
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
HEARTY MINESTRONE
"This is my all-time favorite soup. I love make big batches and freeze some for later. This hearty dish reminds me of spaghetti and sauce in soup form!" -Katie Koziolek of Hartland, Minnesota
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Lunch
Time 1h5m
Yield 2 batches (6 servings each).
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- In a Dutch oven, cook the pork, celery and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Drain. , Stir in the tomatoes, beans, tomato juice, tomato sauce, broth, carrots, zucchini, Italian seasoning, salt, sugar if desired and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 30-35 minutes or until carrots are tender. , Transfer 6 cups of soup to a freezer container; cool. Freeze for up to 3 months. Add water and pasta to remaining soup; bring to a boil. Cover and cook until pasta is tender. , To use frozen soup: Thaw in the refrigerator; transfer to a large saucepan. Stir in water. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Add pasta; cover and cook until tender.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 242 calories, Fat 7g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 25mg cholesterol, Sodium 853mg sodium, Carbohydrate 32g carbohydrate (5g sugars, Fiber 6g fiber), Protein 15g protein.
MINESTRONE SOUP
Cook up a pot of Ellie Krieger's healthy Minestrone Soup from Food Network, loaded with fresh veggies, pasta and herbs.
Provided by Ellie Krieger
Time 45m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook until translucent, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 30 seconds. Add the celery and carrot and cook until they begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Stir in the green beans, dried oregano and basil, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste; cook 3 more minutes.
- Add the diced and crushed tomatoes and the chicken broth to the pot and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium low and simmer 10 minutes. Stir in the kidney beans and pasta and cook until the pasta and vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Season with salt. Ladle into bowls and top with the parmesan and chopped basil.
CLASSIC MINESTRONE
Steps:
- In a casserole heat the olive oil. Add the onions and cook until golden, about 5 to 7 minutes. Then add the carrots and celery and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Add the beans, bay leaf and thyme and toss for 1 minute. Then add the beef stock, Parmesan rind (if using), plum tomatoes and their juice, and salt and pepper to taste. (Careful with the amount of salt since Parmesan rind will add a salty flavor.) Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour. Add the potatoes, zucchini and savoy cabbage and cook for 20 minutes more or until the vegetables are tender. Finally, add your pasta and cook, covered, for about 10 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper, ladle into bowls and serve with some pesto.
EASY MINESTRONE
I wanted a soup recipe that I could make with staples that I always have on hand. This has become a family favorite so I always make enough to freeze. Serve topped with grated Parmesan cheese.
Provided by Luhoney
Categories Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes Soup Recipes Vegetable Soup Recipes Minestrone
Time 1h20m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-low heat. Cook and stir garlic in hot oil until fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Add onion; cook and stir until slightly softened, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in carrots until heated through, 1 to 2 minutes.
- Pour chicken broth and diced tomatoes into onion mixture; bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Add red wine, reduce heat to low, and stir green beans, pinto beans, spinach, basil, oregano, salt, and black pepper into broth mixture. Bring to a simmer, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 40 minutes.
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook seashell pasta in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain and stir pasta into soup. Ladle soup into bowls and top with Parmesan cheese.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 215.9 calories, Carbohydrate 29.3 g, Cholesterol 2.2 mg, Fat 6.6 g, Fiber 7.4 g, Protein 7.7 g, SaturatedFat 1.3 g, Sodium 388.1 mg, Sugar 8.9 g
CLASSIC MINESTRONE
This famous Italian soup has been much imitated around the world with very different results. The homemade version is a delicious revelation and is also extremely healthy, as it has pasta, beans and fresh vegetables. Try to make the minestrone a day early and refrigerate as this improves the flavors. Serve with grated Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh parsley.
Provided by Anonymous
Categories Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes Soup Recipes Vegetable Soup Recipes Minestrone
Time 1h15m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Heat olive oil in a large saucepan, over medium heat. Add leek, carrots, zucchini, green beans and celery. Cover, and reduce heat to low. Cook for 15 minutes, shaking the pan occasionally.
- Stir in the stock, tomatoes and thyme. Bring to a boil, then replace the lid, and reduce heat to low; simmer gently for 30 minutes.
- Stir in the cannellini beans with liquid and pasta. Simmer for an additional 10 minutes, or until pasta is al dente. Season with salt and pepper to taste before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 320 calories, Carbohydrate 44.5 g, Fat 12 g, Fiber 10.1 g, Protein 12 g, SaturatedFat 1.7 g, Sodium 470.9 mg, Sugar 7.8 g
Tips:
- Use a variety of vegetables. The more vegetables you use, the more flavorful your minestrone will be. Some good choices include carrots, celery, onions, potatoes, zucchini, and tomatoes.
- Don't be afraid to experiment with different types of beans. Cannellini beans, kidney beans, and black beans are all good options. You can also use a mix of different beans.
- 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 has a rich flavor.
- Season the soup well. Minestrone should have a flavorful broth, so don't be afraid to add some salt, pepper, and other spices. You can also add some herbs, such as basil, oregano, and thyme.
- Let the soup simmer for a long time. The longer the soup simmers, the more flavorful it will be. Simmer the soup for at least 30 minutes, or even longer if you have time.
Conclusion:
Minestrone 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. Whether you like your minestrone thick or thin, with or without meat, or with a variety of vegetables, there is a recipe out there for you. So next time you're looking for a warm and comforting meal, give minestrone a try. You won't be disappointed.
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