Hearty Italian Vegetable Minestrone (Print Version)

Comforting Italian soup with vegetables, pasta, beans, and herbs in a savory tomato broth.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
02 - 1 large onion, diced
03 - 2 celery stalks, diced
04 - 2 medium carrots, diced
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1 medium zucchini, diced
07 - 1 cup green beans, cut into 1-inch pieces
08 - 1 cup baby spinach or chopped kale

→ Base & Liquids

09 - 1 can (14 ounces) diced tomatoes
10 - 6 cups vegetable broth
11 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste

→ Pasta & Beans

12 - 3/4 cup small pasta such as ditalini or elbow
13 - 1 can (15 ounces) cannellini or kidney beans, drained and rinsed

→ Herbs & Seasonings

14 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
15 - 1 teaspoon dried basil
16 - 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
17 - 1 bay leaf
18 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
19 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, plus more for garnish

# How to Make:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion, celery, and carrots. Sauté for 5 minutes until vegetables are softened.
02 - Stir in minced garlic, diced zucchini, and green beans. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes.
03 - Add diced tomatoes, tomato paste, vegetable broth, dried oregano, dried basil, dried thyme, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
04 - Add pasta and beans to the pot. Cook for 10 minutes or until pasta reaches al dente texture.
05 - Stir in spinach or kale and fresh parsley. Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes until greens are wilted.
06 - Remove bay leaf from the pot. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Ladle into bowls, garnish with additional fresh parsley, and serve hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The beautiful thing about minestrone is how forgiving it is—I've forgotten ingredients, substituted others, and somehow it always turns out delicious.
  • Each spoonful offers a different experience as you discover pockets of pasta, beans, or tender vegetables hiding in the savory broth.
02 -
  • Adding the pasta directly to the soup pot is convenient but it will continue absorbing liquid even after cooking, so if you plan to have leftovers, consider cooking it separately and adding to each bowl.
  • The flavor actually improves after a day in the refrigerator when all those ingredients have had time to get acquainted with each other.
03 -
  • Don't rush the initial vegetable sauté—those few extra minutes developing flavor in the onions, carrots, and celery make an enormous difference to the final taste.
  • When reheating leftover soup, add a splash of fresh broth or even water, plus a sprinkle of fresh herbs to revive all those wonderful flavors.
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