Hearty Italian Vegetable Minestrone (Printable View)

A wholesome Italian classic featuring pasta, beans, and fresh vegetables simmered in aromatic herb broth.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
02 - 1 large onion, diced
03 - 2 celery stalks, diced
04 - 2 medium carrots, diced
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1 medium zucchini, diced
07 - 1 cup green beans, cut into 1-inch pieces
08 - 1 cup baby spinach or chopped kale

→ Base & Liquids

09 - 1 can (14 ounces) diced tomatoes
10 - 6 cups vegetable broth
11 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste

→ Pasta & Beans

12 - 3/4 cup small pasta such as ditalini or elbow
13 - 1 can (15 ounces) cannellini or kidney beans, drained and rinsed

→ Herbs & Seasonings

14 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
15 - 1 teaspoon dried basil
16 - 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
17 - 1 bay leaf
18 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
19 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley plus more for garnish

# How To Make It:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion, celery, and carrots. Sauté for 5 minutes until softened.
02 - Stir in minced garlic, diced zucchini, and green beans. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes.
03 - Add diced tomatoes, tomato paste, vegetable broth, dried oregano, dried basil, dried thyme, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
04 - Add pasta and drained beans. Cook for 10 minutes or until pasta reaches al dente texture.
05 - Stir in spinach or kale and fresh parsley. Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes until greens are wilted.
06 - Remove bay leaf. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Ladle into bowls, garnish with additional parsley, and serve hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes even better the next day after the herbs have had a chance to mingle in the fridge.
  • You can swap in whatever vegetables are looking sad in your pantry and it still turns out amazing.
02 -
  • Adding a Parmesan rind to the simmering broth creates an incredible savory depth you cannot get otherwise.
  • Always cook your pasta slightly less than the package directions because it continues to soften in the heat.
03 -
  • Toast your tomato paste in the center of the pot for a minute to remove the raw metallic taste.
  • Rinse your canned beans thoroughly to remove the starchy liquid which can make the soup look cloudy.
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