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Minestrone

Minestrone is a classic Italian soup that was first made popular among the poorest farmers who scraped together seasonal vegetables and hearty beans to create this humble meal. Minestrone’s comforting warmth and rich combination of flavors later made it a popular winter staple among average Italians. The soup retains its original foundation of seasonal vegetables but is commonly altered according to personal preference—including a debate over which shape of noodle is most befitting of this traditional soup. 

Prep Time
15 minutes
Cook Time
45 minutes
Total Time
1 hour
Vegetarian
Vegan
Gluten Free
Dairy Free
Kosher
Halal

Ingredients

  • 1 Tbsp (15 ml) olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 stick celery, chopped
½ onion, minced
  • 1 carrot, chopped
  • 7 oz (200 g) crushed tomatoes
  • 1 tsp (5 g) dried oregano
  • 1 tsp (5 g) dried basil
  • 2 cups (480 ml) vegetable broth
  • 2 cups (480 ml) water
½ cup (50 g) pasta, preferably elbow macaroni ¼ cup (40 g) green beans
  • 1 zucchini, chopped
  • 2 cups (450 g) spinach
  • 14 oz (400 g) cooked kidney beans
  • 1 Tbsp (4 g) chopped parsley
  • Pinch of salt
  • Pinch of black pepper
  • Parmesan cheese, grated, for garnish

Directions

  1. In a large soup pot over medium heat, heat olive oil and sauté garlic, celery, and onion for about 5 minutes.
  2. Add chopped carrot and crushed tomatoes to pot.
  3. Season with oregano and basil.
  4. Pour in vegetable broth and water and bring mixture to a boil.
  5. Cover pot and cook soup for 10 minutes.
  6. Add elbow macaroni, green beans, and chopped zucchini.
  7. Stir to combine and boil until noodles are tender.
  8. Finish soup with fresh spinach and cooked beans.
  9. Garnish with parsley, and season to taste with salt and pepper.
  10. Serve hot, garnished with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.