Description
Hearty minestrone soup beckons with Italian countryside charm, blending garden-fresh vegetables and robust beans into a comforting one-pot meal. Simmering with rich herbs and savory broth, this classic recipe invites you to savor each spoonful of rustic, soul-warming goodness.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables:
- 1 onion
- 2 carrots
- 3 celery sticks
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1/4 green cabbage
Protein and Pasta:
- 1 tin (400 grams) cannellini beans
- 100 grams (3.5 ounces) dried spaghetti
Liquids and Seasonings:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons tomato puree
- 1 tin (400 grams) chopped tomatoes
- 1.2 liters (5 cups) stock
- Salt
- Pepper
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat, sauté diced onions, carrots, and celery until vegetables soften and become translucent, approximately 8-10 minutes.
- Introduce minced garlic and tomato paste, stirring continuously to prevent burning, allowing flavors to meld for 2-3 minutes.
- Pour vegetable stock and crushed tomatoes into the pot, bringing the mixture to a gentle simmer and allowing ingredients to combine for 12-15 minutes.
- Incorporate dried pasta and kidney beans, continuing to cook until pasta reaches an al dente texture, roughly 8-10 minutes.
- Add chopped cabbage to the soup, cooking for an additional 3 minutes until slightly tender but still vibrant green.
- Taste the soup and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, and optional herbs like fresh basil or oregano to enhance the overall flavor profile.
- Remove from heat, let the minestrone rest for 2-3 minutes to allow flavors to further develop before serving hot with a sprinkle of grated parmesan cheese.
Notes
- Chop vegetables uniformly to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the soup.
- Choose short pasta shapes like ditalini or small shells that fit easily on a spoon and complement the soup’s rustic style.
- Consider using vegetable stock for a vegetarian version or swap beans for different protein options like chickpeas or lentils.
- Enhance flavor by adding a parmesan cheese rind during simmering, which infuses a rich, savory depth to the broth.
- Prep Time: 0 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 mins
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 220 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg