Minestrone Soup

Minestrone is a classic Italian soup made with fresh vegetables, beans, and pasta in a light tomato broth. It’s hearty but never too heavy.
Start by cooking onions, garlic, celery, and carrots in olive oil. These create a flavorful base. Next, add the remaining vegetables and beans to deepen the soup as it cooks. Popular choices include zucchini, green beans, potatoes, and spinach, while classic beans like cannellini or kidney beans work well. Feel free to use your favorites or what you have on hand.
Let everything simmer in tomato broth for 20 to 30 minutes, until the vegetables are tender and the flavors come together. The result is a soup that’s rich, clean, and balanced.
You can use different ingredients, but the flavor stays balanced. Most of all, it’s a comforting soup for any day.
Add the pasta near the end of cooking, using a small shape like ditalini or small shells. Stir it in about 8 to 10 minutes before serving so it keeps its texture and doesn’t become mushy. This gives the soup some structure and keeps the texture light.
You can make this recipe any time of year and use whatever ingredients you have on hand. It’s also easy to make a big batch and store leftovers. To store, let the soup cool, then transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days. To reheat, simply warm the soup gently on the stove or in the microwave until hot, adding a splash of water or broth if it has thickened. If the soup contains pasta, you may want to cook and add fresh pasta when reheating to keep the texture just right.
Minestrone always turns out consistent and balanced. It’s a simple, reliable soup you can count on.

Category, , , DifficultyBeginner

 

Yields6 Servings

 2 tablespoons olive oil
 1 large onion, diced
 1 large onion, diced
 2 celery stalks, diced
 2 garlic cloves, minced
 1 zucchini, diced
 1 cup green beans, trimmed and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
 4 cups vegetable broth (or chicken broth)
 2 cups water
  1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes
 1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
 1/2 cup small pasta (e.g., ditalini, macaroni, or orzo)
 2 teaspoons dried Italian herbs (basil, oregano, thyme)
 Salt and pepper to taste
 2 cups baby spinach or kale, chopped
 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
 Fresh basil or parsley for garnish

1

Sauté the Vegetables: Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, and celery, sautéing until they begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant.

2

Add the Soup Base: Stir in the zucchini and green beans. Pour in the broth and water. Add the diced tomatoes, cannellini beans, dried herbs, salt, and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for about 20 minutes.

3

Incorporate Pasta: Add the pasta to the soup and continue simmering until the pasta is tender, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

4

Final Touches: Stir in the spinach or kale and cook until the greens are wilted. Check the seasoning, adjusting salt and pepper as needed.

5

Serve: Ladle the soup into bowls, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese if desired, and garnish with fresh basil or parsley.

Ingredients

 2 tablespoons olive oil
 1 large onion, diced
 1 large onion, diced
 2 celery stalks, diced
 2 garlic cloves, minced
 1 zucchini, diced
 1 cup green beans, trimmed and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
 4 cups vegetable broth (or chicken broth)
 2 cups water
  1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes
 1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
 1/2 cup small pasta (e.g., ditalini, macaroni, or orzo)
 2 teaspoons dried Italian herbs (basil, oregano, thyme)
 Salt and pepper to taste
 2 cups baby spinach or kale, chopped
 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
 Fresh basil or parsley for garnish
Minestrone Soup

Perfect Wine Pairing:

Barbera: A light to medium-bodied Barbera pairs well with Minestrone Soup. Its high acidity and low tannins complement the variety of vegetables without overpowering the soup’s flavors. The wine’s bright cherry and plum notes offer a pleasant contrast to the earthy soup.

Vermentino: If you prefer white wine, Vermentino is an excellent choice. Its herbal and citrus notes align with the soup’s vegetable profile, and its crisp acidity helps to cleanse the palate between bites.

If you enjoyed this recipe, explore our

Italian Comfort Recipes guide
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