**Minestrone: A Hearty and Versatile Italian Soup**
Minestrone is a classic Italian soup that is known for its thick, hearty texture and abundance of vegetables. Originating in the countryside of Italy, this versatile dish has become a beloved comfort food around the world. With its roots in peasant cooking, minestrone is a testament to the art of using simple, fresh ingredients to create a flavorful and wholesome meal. This versatile soup can be tailored to personal preferences, making it a perfect canvas for culinary creativity. From traditional recipes passed down through generations to modern interpretations that incorporate a variety of flavors and ingredients, minestrone is a soup that offers endless possibilities. In this article, we present a collection of delicious minestrone recipes, each with its own unique twist on this classic dish. Whether you prefer a classic vegetable-packed minestrone, a hearty meat-based version, or a lighter and refreshing summer minestrone, we have a recipe that will satisfy your cravings.
SLOW-COOKER MINESTRONE
There's nothing quite like the comfort of warm homemade soup, and it's even better when your slow cooker does most of the work for you! This slow-cooker minestrone is easy to put together but has all the flavor of a high-effort dish. -Erin Raatjes, New Lenox, Illinois
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Lunch
Time 6h50m
Yield 12 servings (4 quarts).
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- Combine the first 13 ingredients in a 5- or 6-qt. slow cooker. Cook, covered, on low 6-8 hours or until vegetables are tender. Stir in beans, zucchini and pasta. Cook, covered, on high about 30 minutes longer, until pasta is tender. Discard bay leaves. If desired, top with grated Parmesan cheese. Freeze option: Freeze cooled soup in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a saucepan, stirring occasionally; add water if necessary.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 165 calories, Fat 1g fat (0 saturated fat), Cholesterol 0 cholesterol, Sodium 813mg sodium, Carbohydrate 33g carbohydrate (6g sugars, Fiber 6g fiber), Protein 7g protein.
SLOW COOKER VEGETARIAN MINESTRONE
Slow cooking this family favorite soup allows all the flavors and spices to intensify and delivers a delicious, hearty meal every one is sure to enjoy. Serve with a green salad and garlic bread for dipping.
Provided by laura
Categories Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes Soup Recipes Vegetable Soup Recipes Minestrone
Time 6h35m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Combine vegetable broth, tomatoes, kidney beans, onion, celery, carrots, green beans, zucchini, garlic, parsley, oregano, salt, thyme, and black pepper in a 6-quart slow cooker.
- Cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours.
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, 8 minutes; drain.
- Stir spinach and macaroni into minestrone; cook another 15 minutes. Top with Parmesan cheese.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 138.1 calories, Carbohydrate 25.2 g, Cholesterol 2.2 mg, Fat 1.7 g, Fiber 6.5 g, Protein 6.9 g, SaturatedFat 0.5 g, Sodium 940.5 mg, Sugar 7.6 g
SLOW COOKER BEEF MINESTRONE SOUP
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- In a medium skillet, brown ground beef until completely cooked.
- Place your ground beef, diced tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, celery, onion, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper into your slow cooker.
- Add in beef stock, water, and tomato juice.
- Cover and cook on low heat 6-8 hours or high 3-4 hours.
- After cooking time is up, add in red kidney beans, cannellini beans, zucchini, pasta, and green beans. Cook on high heat for an additional 15 minutes or until pasta is tender.
SLOW-COOKER VEGETABLE MINESTRONE
Savor slow-cooked Italian soup with little effort by letting your slow cooker do all the work! This is one hearty soup recipe the whole family will love.
Provided by By Betty Crocker Kitchens
Categories Entree
Time 7h35m
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- In 4- to 5-quart slow cooker, mix all ingredients except pasta and cheese.
- Cover; cook on Low heat setting 7 to 8 hours.
- Stir in pasta. Increase heat setting to High; cover and cook 15 to 20 minutes longer or until pasta is tender. Sprinkle each serving with cheese. Note: This recipe was tested in slow cookers with heating elements in the side and bottom of the cooker, not in cookers that stand only on a heated base. For slow cookers with just a heated base, follow the manufacturer's directions for layering ingredients and choosing a temperature.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 105, Carbohydrate 21 g, Cholesterol 0 mg, Fiber 2 g, Protein 5 g, SaturatedFat 2 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 940 mg
EASY SLOW COOKER VEGETARIAN MINESTRONE
This minestrone is yummy, full of good-for-you veggies, and made in the slow cooker. What could be better?
Provided by singlemomcooking
Categories 100+ Everyday Cooking Recipes Special Collection Recipes New
Time 7h25m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Heat oil in the bottom of a 4- or 6-quart slow cooker on High. Add zucchini, onion, carrot, celery, garlic, salt, and pepper; stir to combine.
- Pour in vegetable stock, chickpeas, undrained tomatoes, and green beans. Cover and cook on Low for 6 to 7 hours.
- Add ditalini and cook for 1 more hour. Stir in pesto and serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 244.9 calories, Carbohydrate 33.5 g, Cholesterol 3.3 mg, Fat 8.7 g, Fiber 6.3 g, Protein 8.8 g, SaturatedFat 1.8 g, Sodium 697.9 mg, Sugar 4.4 g
HEARTY SLOW COOKER MINESTRONE SOUP
"I picked up this recipe in California in the '80s and have been making it ever since. I love it partly because it's simple to put together and partly because the flavor is so wonderful!" Bonnie Hosman - Young, AZ
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Lunch
Time 6h40m
Yield 7 servings (about 2-1/2 quarts).
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- In a 5-qt. slow cooker, combine the first 10 ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until vegetables are tender., Stir in the beans, spinach and macaroni. Cover and cook 15 minutes longer or until heated through. Sprinkle with cheese. Freeze option: Cool soup and transfer to freezer containers. Freeze for up to 3 months. To use frozen soup, thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Transfer to a saucepan. Cover and cook over medium heat until heated through. Sprinkle with cheese.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 276 calories, Fat 7g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 12mg cholesterol, Sodium 974mg sodium, Carbohydrate 41g carbohydrate (11g sugars, Fiber 12g fiber), Protein 15g protein.
SLOW-COOKER VEGETARIAN MINESTRONE
This vegetable-packed minestrone relies on flavorful dried cannellini beans, which benefit from the long cooking time of a slow cooker (and no soaking is required!).
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Time 6h30m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Add the beans, carrots, garlic, bay leaves, celery, sweet potato, onion, crushed red pepper flakes, Parmesan rind, if using, 1 tablespoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper to the insert of a 6-quart slow cooker. Stir in the crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, tomato paste and 4 cups water. Cover and cook until the beans are tender, 6 hours on high or 8 hours on low.
- Stir in the kale, cover and let simmer until just wilted, about 10 minutes. Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with freshly grated Parmesan. Serve with toasted baguette, if desired.
- If using pasta, spoon 1/2 cup cooked pasta into each bowl and ladle the soup on top. Store the pasta and soup in separate containers.
SPRUCED-UP SLOW COOKER MINESTRONE SOUP
Easy, hearty, slow cooker minestrone soup. We like to top ours with Cheddar cheese and serve with cornbread. It's even better the second day and leftovers freeze well.
Provided by crandolph
Time 4h15m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir ground beef in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain and discard grease. Transfer beef to a slow cooker.
- Add pinto beans, minestrone soup, corn, green beans, diced tomatoes, and diced tomatoes and green chiles. Stir and close the lid.
- Cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours or on High for 4 hours.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 301.9 calories, Carbohydrate 32.7 g, Cholesterol 35.6 mg, Fat 11.5 g, Fiber 6.6 g, Protein 18.1 g, SaturatedFat 4 g, Sodium 1285.3 mg, Sugar 4.5 g
MINESTRONE SOUP (CROCK POT / SLOW COOKER)
From Crockery Cookery Cookbook by Mable Hoffman, pg. 127. Very easy soup to put together. Don't put in the macaroni until you're about ready to serve the soup...
Provided by NELady
Categories Beans
Time 7h45m
Yield 1 Crock of Soup, 10 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- In a crock pot, combine beef with water, onion, salt, thyme, parsley, pepper, and tomatoes. Cover and cook on low for 7 to 9 hours. Remove beef bones (if using beef shank); cut up meat and return to pot. Turn control to high. Add zucchini, beans, cabbage, and macaroni. Cover and cook on high for 30-45 minutes or until the macaroni/vegetables are tender. Sprinkle with cheese.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 242.9, Fat 8.2, SaturatedFat 3.1, Cholesterol 38.5, Sodium 445, Carbohydrate 22.6, Fiber 3.6, Sugar 2.7, Protein 19.5
SLOW-COOKER MEDITERRANEAN MINESTRONE CASSEROLE
With a 20-minute prep time, a hearty pasta casserole can be assembled in the morning on even the busiest days.
Provided by By Betty Crocker Kitchens
Categories Entree
Time 8h40m
Yield 5
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Mix all ingredients except green beans, macaroni and cheese in 3- to 4-quart slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on Low heat setting 6 to 8 hours.
- Stir in green beans and macaroni. Increase heat setting to High. Cover and cook about 20 minutes or until beans and macaroni are tender. Sprinkle with cheese.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 250, Carbohydrate 42 g, Cholesterol 10 mg, Fat 1/2, Fiber 6 g, Protein 11 g, SaturatedFat 2 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 930 mg, Sugar 13 g, TransFat 0 g
SLOW-COOKER BEAN AND SAUSAGE MINESTRONE
Let this comforting soup simmer all day and come home to a hearty meal at night. Sausage is a great item to buy in bulk when it's on sale-just freeze to have on-hand for last-minute dinners.
Provided by Betty Crocker Kitchens
Categories Entree
Time 10h55m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- If bean soup mix comes with seasoning mix, discard it. Heat beans and 8 cups water to boiling in 4-quart saucepan; reduce heat to low. Simmer uncovered 10 minutes; remove from heat. Cover and let stand 1 hour.
- Cook sausage and onion in 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sausage is no longer pink; drain if necessary.
- Drain beans and discard water. Mix beans, sausage mixture, carrots, broth and 2 cups water in 5- to 6-quart slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on Low heat setting 8 to 9 hours.
- Stir in tomatoes and pasta. Increase heat setting to High. Cover and cook about 30 minutes or until pasta is tender. Sprinkle individual servings with cheese and parsley.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 440, Carbohydrate 64 g, Cholesterol 25 mg, Fiber 9 g, Protein 22 g, SaturatedFat 3 1/2 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 1400 mg, Sugar 10 g, TransFat 0 g
MICHELLE'S CREAMY MINESTRONE (SLOW COOKER)
A hearty non-traditional creamy version of minestrone soup with lots of veggies - a family favorite, especially in the winter time, served with fresh buttered bread.
Provided by Michelle Zaretzky
Categories Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes Soup Recipes Vegetable Soup Recipes Minestrone
Time 5h25m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 21
Steps:
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add pancetta, leek, and garlic; cook and stir until browned, about 5 minutes.
- Transfer pancetta and leek to a slow cooker; add chicken broth, kidney beans, potatoes, beef broth, tomatoes, carrots, green beans, corn, celery, parsley, black pepper, basil, and salt. Cook on Low until vegetables are tender, about 4 hours.
- Transfer about half the vegetables from the slow cooker to a blender using a slotted spoon. Cover blender and hold lid down with a potholder; pulse a few times before leaving on to blend. Pour vegetable puree back into the slow cooker. Stir in garbanzo beans, cream, pasta, and 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese. Cook soup on High until flavors blend and pasta is cooked, about 1 hour.
- Serve with remaining Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 387.2 calories, Carbohydrate 41.1 g, Cholesterol 57.3 mg, Fat 18.2 g, Fiber 8.1 g, Protein 15.8 g, SaturatedFat 9.6 g, Sodium 1227.6 mg, Sugar 3.7 g
VEGETABLE MINESTRONE - SLOW COOKER
Make and share this Vegetable Minestrone - Slow Cooker recipe from Food.com.
Provided by FeedMePlz
Categories Onions
Time 8h15m
Yield 12 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Mix all ingredients except pasta and cheese into a 4-5 quart slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on low 7-8 hours or until veggies are tender.
- Stir in pasta. Cover and cook on high heat setting 15-20 min or until pasta is tender. Sprinkle each serving with cheese.
SLOW-COOKER VEGETABLE MINESTRONE
Savor slow-cooked Italian soup with little effort by letting your slow cooker do all the work! This is one hearty soup recipe the whole family will love.
Provided by Betty Crocker Kitchens
Categories Entree
Time 7h35m
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- In 4- to 5-quart slow cooker, mix all ingredients except pasta and cheese.
- Cover; cook on Low heat setting 7 to 8 hours.
- Stir in pasta. Increase heat setting to High; cover and cook 15 to 20 minutes longer or until pasta is tender. Sprinkle each serving with cheese. Note: This recipe was tested in slow cookers with heating elements in the side and bottom of the cooker, not in cookers that stand only on a heated base. For slow cookers with just a heated base, follow the manufacturer's directions for layering ingredients and choosing a temperature.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 105, Carbohydrate 21 g, Cholesterol 0 mg, Fiber 2 g, Protein 5 g, SaturatedFat 2 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 940 mg
Tips:
- Fresh vegetables are best for minestrone, but frozen vegetables can be used in a pinch.
- If you don't have any fresh herbs on hand, you can use dried herbs instead. Just use about 1/3 of the amount called for in the recipe.
- Canned beans can be used instead of dried beans, but be sure to rinse them well before adding them to the soup.
- You can add other vegetables to your minestrone, such as zucchini, yellow squash, or kale.
- If you want a thicker soup, you can add some cooked pasta or rice.
- Serve minestrone with a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese and a side of crusty bread.
Conclusion:
Minestrone is a delicious and hearty soup that is perfect for a cold winter day. It is also a great way to use up leftover vegetables. With a few simple ingredients and a little bit of time, you can make a delicious pot of minestrone that the whole family will enjoy.
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