Description
Hearty winter minestrone soup balances rustic Italian flavors with seasonal vegetables and rich broth. Comforting ingredients blend seamlessly, offering warmth and nourishment for cold evenings you’ll savor completely.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups (960 mL) vegetable broth
- 1 can (15 oz / 425 g) cannellini beans, drained & rinsed
- 1 can (14 oz / 400 g) diced tomatoes
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- ½ cup (60 g) small pasta (ditalini or elbow)
- 2 cups kale or Swiss chard, chopped
- 1 small sweet potato, diced
- 2 carrots, peeled & chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 1 small zucchini, chopped
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- ½ tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
- Grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil or parsley
- Crusty bread
Instructions
- Sauté Base: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium flame, introducing diced onions, minced garlic, carrots, and celery. Allow vegetables to soften and release aromatic essences for 5-6 minutes, creating a flavor foundation.
- Build Soup Structure: Add zucchini, sweet potato, diced tomatoes, broth, oregano, basil, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Bring mixture to a vigorous boil, then reduce heat to a gentle simmer, letting ingredients harmonize and vegetables tenderize for approximately 20 minutes.
- Incorporate Protein and Pasta: Integrate cannellini beans and pasta, continuing to cook for 8-10 minutes until pasta reaches perfect al dente consistency. Fold in robust greens like kale or Swiss chard, allowing them to gently wilt into the soup’s rich landscape.
- Finale and Presentation: Ladle steaming minestrone into serving vessels, garnishing with freshly grated Parmesan, delicate herb sprinkles, and serving alongside crusty bread to complete this winter comfort experience.
Notes
- Boost Vegetable Flavor: Thoroughly caramelize vegetables before adding liquids to intensify their natural sweetness and develop a deeper, richer taste profile.
- Customize Pasta Texture: Cook pasta separately and add to individual servings to prevent overcooking and maintain ideal al dente consistency, especially when storing leftovers.
- Enhance Soup Thickness: Use a potato masher or immersion blender to partially crush some vegetables, creating a thicker, more luxurious soup texture without adding extra calories.
- Adapt for Dietary Needs: Substitute gluten-free pasta for traditional wheat pasta, use vegetable broth for a vegan version, and add protein like shredded chicken or plant-based protein to increase nutritional value.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 2 mg