Minestrone Soup
A rich tomato broth loaded with healthy legumes, vegetables and fresh herbs.
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 215kcal
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large onion diced
- 3 whole small carrots peeled and diced
- 2 stalks celery diced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 medium zucchini sliced and quartered
- 1 ½ teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
- 8 cups vegetable broth (low salt)
- 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes (low or no-salt) do not drain
- 24 ounce bottle Passata *
- 1 cup hot water
- 1 bay leaf
- 14.5 ounce can Italian cut green beans drained and rinsed
- 15 ounce can red kidney beans drained and rinsed
- 15 ounce can cannellini beans drained and rinsed
- 15 ounce can garbanzo beans drained and rinsed
- 4 cups fresh baby spinach leaves lightly packed
- 1 cup small shell pasta or medium shells
- Fresh grated Parmesan cheese for garnish
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh basil leaves julienned
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large heavy bottom soup pot on medium heat. Add the onion, carrots and celery. Sauté until slightly softened. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute or until fragrant. Stir in the zucchini, oregano, Italian seasoning, red pepper and pepper. Pour in the vegetable broth, tomatoes with juice, Passata, hot water and the bay leaf. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to maintain a simmer, cover and cook for 30 minutes stirring occasionally.
- Add the drained and rinsed green beans, kidney beans, cannellini beans, garbanzo beans, baby spinach and pasta. Cook until the pasta is al dente, about 15 minutes. Remove and discard the bay leaf. Add parsley and basil, if using.
- Check the seasoning and add fresh ground pepper and salt as needed. Garnish individual bowls with fresh grated Parmesan cheese and serve with crusty bread.
Notes
* Passata (strained tomatoes) - can be found near the spaghetti sauce in your local grocery store
Nutritional information may vary depending on the products used in this recipe.
Nutrition
Calories: 215kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 315mg | Potassium: 743mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 4213IU | Vitamin C: 23mg | Calcium: 113mg | Iron: 4mg
