**Minestrone: A Hearty and Versatile Italian Soup**
Minestrone is a classic Italian soup that is known for its versatility and hearty flavor. It is typically made with a variety of vegetables, beans, and pasta, and can be customized to include different ingredients based on what is available or what your personal preferences are. This article features three delicious minestrone recipes that are easy to make and perfect for a quick and satisfying meal.
**Recipes:**
1. **Traditional Minestrone:** This classic minestrone recipe features a flavorful broth made with vegetable stock, tomatoes, and herbs. It is packed with a variety of vegetables, including carrots, celery, onions, potatoes, and green beans. Cannellini beans and small pasta add heartiness and texture to the soup.
2. **Tuscan Minestrone:** This Tuscan-inspired minestrone is made with a flavorful broth made with pancetta, onions, and garlic. It features a variety of vegetables, including kale, zucchini, carrots, and potatoes. Cannellini beans and ditalini pasta add heartiness and texture to the soup.
3. **Summer Minestrone:** This refreshing summer minestrone is made with a light broth made with vegetable stock and fresh herbs. It features a variety of vegetables, including zucchini, yellow squash, tomatoes, and corn. White beans and orzo pasta add heartiness and texture to the soup.
QUICK AND EASY MINESTRONE
Traditionally, minestrone is slow-simmered with Parmigiano-Reggiano rinds to impart a rich umami flavor to the broth. In our shortcut version, soy sauce is used instead, adding instant depth to this pantry-friendly soup.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories appetizer
Time 25m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Heat the oil in a medium pot over medium-high heat. Add the corn and cook, stirring occasionally, until it starts to brown slightly, about 3 minutes. Add the tomato paste, rosemary and oregano and cook, stirring constantly, until the tomato paste begins to darken in color, about 1 minute. Slowly whisk in the chicken broth until the paste is smooth and incorporated into the liquid.
- Add the whole can of diced tomatoes (including the liquid), and bring the mixture to a boil. Stir in the pasta, the white beans and reserved liquid and the soy sauce. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until the pasta is al dente, 7 to 8 minutes, stirring in the green beans during the last 2 minutes of cooking. Serve in individual bowls with a little oil drizzled on top.
EASY MINESTRONE SOUP
Use leftover marinara for a head start on this yummy, veggie-packed soup. It's perfect with a sandwich on a chilly day, or with a crusty garlic bread and simple salad on a busy night.
Provided by Bibi
Categories Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes Soup Recipes Vegetable Soup Recipes Squash Soup Recipes Zucchini Soup Recipes
Time 55m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add celery, carrots, and onion. Cook, stirring frequently, until onion begins to turn translucent, about 4 minutes. Add garlic and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Add vegetable broth, marinara sauce, tomato paste, and Italian seasoning. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, until carrots are soft, about 10 minutes.
- Add pasta and zucchini. Cook until pasta is tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in beans, kale, salt, and pepper. Remove from heat and allow soup to cool slightly. Spoon into individual bowls and garnish with Parmesan cheese.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 364.8 calories, Carbohydrate 64.3 g, Cholesterol 2.9 mg, Fat 6.5 g, Fiber 9.6 g, Protein 14.5 g, SaturatedFat 1.4 g, Sodium 788.8 mg, Sugar 13.8 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
SUPER QUICK MINESTRONE
Provided by Michael Chiarello : Food Network
Categories main-dish
Time 1h10m
Yield 8 to 10 servings
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain and transfer the pasta to a baking sheet. Toss the pasta with a little olive oil to prevent sticking.
- In a large saucepan over medium heat, warm the chicken stock.
- In another large saucepan over high heat, heat 1/4 cup oil. When the oil is hot but not smoking, add the pancetta and cook until it begins to brown, 3 to 4 minutes, turning occasionally. Add the garlic and cook until it begins to brown, about 1 minute, stirring occasionally. Lower the heat to medium and add the onions, celery, and carrots.
- Cook until the vegetables are soft, 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent browning. Add the chopped herbs. Raise the heat to high. Add the beans, tomatoes, zucchini, and potatoes. Add the chicken stock and bring to a boil. Then bring it down to a simmer and cook until the potatoes are tender, 12 to 15 minutes, skimming any foam off the top of the soup. Season generously with pepper. Add salt, to taste. Just a few minutes before serving, add the cooked tubetti pasta. Serve warm with Parmesan and olive oil passed at the table.
- Cooking notes: Add the cooked pasta just before serving. If it sits in the soup too long, it develops a flabby texture. Tubetti (little hollow tubes) are the classic pasta for minestrone, but you could substitute another small shape of pasta.
MINESTRONE IN MINUTES
Whip up a hearty bowl of soup in next to no time, perfect for a quick lunch or warming supper
Provided by Good Food team
Categories Lunch, Soup
Time 10m
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Bring the stock to the boil with the tomatoes, then add the spaghetti and cook for 6 mins or until done. A few minutes before the pasta is ready, add the vegetables and bring back to the boil. Simmer for 2 mins until everything is cooked.
- Serve in bowls drizzled with pesto and oil, sprinkled with parmesan.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 162 calories, Fat 2 grams fat, Carbohydrate 30 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 8 grams sugar, Fiber 6 grams fiber, Protein 8 grams protein, Sodium 0.54 milligram of sodium
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
Tips:
- Use fresh vegetables: Fresh vegetables will give your minestrone soup the best flavor. If you can, buy your vegetables from a farmers market or farm stand.
- Don't overcook the vegetables: The vegetables in minestrone soup should be cooked until they are tender but still have a slight crunch to them. Overcooked vegetables will become mushy and lose their flavor.
- Use a good quality broth: The broth is the base of your minestrone soup, so it's important to use a good quality broth. You can use chicken broth, vegetable broth, or beef broth.
- Add some herbs and spices: Herbs and spices can help to add flavor and depth to your minestrone soup. Some good options include basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, garlic, and black pepper.
- Serve with a side of bread or salad: Minestrone soup is a hearty and filling soup, but it can also be served with a side of bread or salad to make a complete meal.
Conclusion:
Minestrone soup is a delicious and versatile soup that can be made with a variety of ingredients. It's a great way to use up leftover vegetables, and it's also a healthy and affordable meal. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy soup recipe, give minestrone a try!
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