Minestrone Soup is a vibrant Italian dish packed with veggies, meats, and pasta or rice, all simmered in a rich broth. It's a simple, filling one-pot meal that warms you up from the inside. Enjoying it with a slice of crusty bread just enhances the experience. This soup feels like a warm embrace on a cold day!
What You’ll Find On This Page
What's great about Minestrone is its flexibility with ingredients. Whether it's leftover veggies, some meat, or pasta from your pantry, it all fits perfectly in this soup, making it the ideal dish to use up what you have while still tasting intentionally delicious.
Moreover, this soup is full of nutrition, offering a great balance of carbs, fiber, and essential nutrients, making it the perfect comfort food that's also good for you, especially during cooler weather. If you're after a meal that's both hearty and healthful, Minestrone Soup is here for you.
Ingredients and Substitutions Overview
To make this Classic Italian Minestrone Soup, you'll need some easy-to-find ingredients: basic seasonings, a variety of seasonal vegetables, and a few essentials from your pantry. Let's check out the list:
Main Ingredients
- Vegetables: I'm using carrots, green beans, and celery, but feel free to throw in any seasonal veggies you like. Potatoes, spinach, and squash are great additions that bring more flavor to the soup.
- Pasta: Pick a small variety like macaroni, shells, elbow, orzo, or ditalini. It adds a nice texture and keeps the soup hearty.
- Tomatoes: Canned diced tomatoes work great for adding a tangy-sweet flavor. Crushed tomatoes or tomato sauce are also good choices for a deeper taste.
- Kidney Beans: These are great for protein, especially if you're going for a veggie or vegan option. Cannellini beans or even some meat can work if you're looking for more protein.
- Aromatics: Fresh onion and garlic form the flavorful base. They bring a warm, savory depth to the soup. If needed, dried minced onion and garlic can be substitutes.
Seasonings and Flavorings
- Broth: I chose vegetable broth to keep our Minestrone Soup vegetarian-friendly, but feel free to switch to chicken broth if that suits your diet better.
- Herbs: We're adding a burst of flavor with fresh parsley, thyme, dried oregano, and bay leaves. These herbs work together to create a rich and complex taste in our soup.
- Seasonings: I've added a bit of cayenne pepper, chili flakes, black pepper, and salt to give the soup some extra flavor. But if you're not a fan of cayenne, don't sweat it. You can simply skip it or swap it out for paprika for a milder kick.
- Cheese: A sprinkle of cheese before serving adds a lovely, nutty depth to the soup. If you're eyeing a vegan version, you can easily skip the cheese.
How to Make Minestrone Soup at Home?
Now let's get into making some hearty Minestrone Soup! With clear photos for each step and a handy video guide, you'll be able to whip up a warm, comforting bowl for you or your loved ones in no time. Ready? Let's begin!
Explore More Comforting Soup Recipes:
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- Tomato Soup
- Potato Soup
- Lentil Soup
- French Onion Soup
- Pumpkin Soup
- Egg Drop Soup
- Tortellini Soup
- Pasta e Fagioli Soup
Minestrone Soup
Ingredients
- 1 Onion, chopped
- 4 cloves Garlic, crushed
- 3 Bay Leaves
- 1 Carrot, chopped
- 2 ribs Celery, finely diced
- 2 sprigs Thyme Leaves
- 1 tsp Dried Oregano
- ½ tsp Cayenne Pepper
- 1 cup Green Beans, chopped
- 28 oz Diced Tomato
- 14 oz Kidney Beans
- ½ tsp Chili Flakes
- 4 cup Veg Broth
- 1 cup Pasta, shell, elbow, or macaroni variety
- 3 tbsp Olive Oil
- Black Pepper Powder, to taste
- Salt, to taste
- Parsley Leaves, to garnish
- Parmesan Cheese, optional for serving
Instructions
Making Minestrone Soup
- Preheat a wide-bottom pan over medium heat and pour in some oil. Add bay leaves, onion, and garlic. Saute everything until they turn soft and release their fresh aroma. This step ensures a deep flavor for your soup.
- Now, add the celery, carrots, and season them with thyme, oregano, cayenne pepper, and salt. Stir and cook the veggies until they turn soft and tender.
- Once they are tender, add the diced tomatoes, green beans, kidney beans, and chili flakes. Stir everything together for an even distribution of the mixture.
- Now, introduce the broth and mix everything well. Bring the mixture to a boil for about 3-5 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to low, close the pan with its lid, and allow the mixture to simmer for 10-15 minutes. This helps the flavors meld together, resulting in a flavorful soup.
- Open the lid and add your pasta of choice. Give it a good mix with the other ingredients.
- Simmer the mixture for a few more minutes until the pasta turns al dente. This simmering time may vary based on the pasta variety you are using, so keep an eye on them for perfection.
- Finally, season your Minestrone Soup with black pepper powder and garnish with parsley and parmesan cheese. Now your comforting soup is ready for you to enjoy.
Serving
- Enjoy this flavor-packed Minestrone Soup with a side of crusty bread or your favorite accompaniment. For more pairing ideas check out our Serving Suggestions section below.
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Recipe Video
Chef's Notes and Tips
- Start with the Hard Veggies: When you're adding veggies, begin with the ones that take a bit longer to cook, like carrots and celery. This way, they get soft just right, and the quicker-cooking veggies don't turn mushy.
- Let It Simmer: I've found that letting the soup simmer for a while really makes all the difference. It helps all the flavors come together beautifully, so try not to skip this step. Trust me, it's worth the wait!
- Choosing Pasta: It's best to use small pasta shapes that don't get too soft in the soup. And if you're planning to keep some soup for later, cook the pasta separately and add it in when you're ready to eat. This keeps the pasta perfect, not soggy.
Nutrition Info
Disclaimer
We're not nutrition experts, and the nutritional information provided is an estimate. Please use it as a guide. For precise details, it's best to consult a professional. To learn more, please view our Detailed Disclaimers.
Explore our handpicked collection of soothing soups and stews, like our chicken varieties, alongside hearty comfort dishes and easy one-pot meals. Each recipe is ideal for days when you crave extra warmth and comfort.
Serving Suggestions
Minestrone Soup is a hearty meal all by itself, packed with loads of veggies, proteins, and hearty bits like pasta or rice. But if you're in the mood to round it out with some sides, here are a few favorites:
- Crusty Bread: For me, Minestrone just isn't complete without a piece of crusty bread, whether it's a robust Italian loaf or a crunchy baguette, just right for soaking up all the flavorful broth. Adding some croutons for a bit of crunch works wonders too. And have you ever tried dunking a melty grilled cheese into the soup? It's the best!
- Salads: A light green salad with a simple vinaigrette dressing is one of my other favorite sides. It adds a fresh, crisp bite that balances out the soup's richness.
- Potatoes: If I haven't put potatoes in my soup, I love to serve it with some roasted or baked potatoes on the side. They round out the meal beautifully, making it even more satisfying.
Storage Suggestions
- Saving for Later: Minestrone Soup is best enjoyed fresh, but if you've got extra, just pop it in the fridge in a tight-lid container and it'll be good for 3-4 days.
- Pasta Cooking: If you're making a big batch, try cooking the pasta separately so it doesn't get too soft. You can even freeze them both for up to 3 months!
- Easy Reheat: For a quick meal later on, freeze individual servings in freezer bags. When you're craving some soup, just thaw it in the fridge, warm it up in the microwave or on the stove, and it'll taste just as amazing as when you first made it!
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