Warm up on cool days with this hearty soup! Full of classic minestrone flavors, this soup can be customized with your family’s favorite vegetables, pasta or beans. This recipe feeds a crowd, so your family can enjoy dinner tonight and leftovers later. Try serving with toasty bread, a squeeze of lemon and a sprinkling of crushed red pepper flakes for a tasty Italian experience.
How to Make It
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup onion, chopped
- 2 medium ribs of celery, chopped (about 1 cup)
- 2 medium carrots, chopped (about 1 cup)
- ¼ cup tomato paste
- 2 cups vegetables of choice, such as corn, peas, chopped zucchini or cut green beans, fresh or frozen
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- One 28-ounce can diced tomatoes, or two 15-ounce cans
- 4 cups (32 ounces) vegetable broth
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup whole wheat elbow pasta
- One 15-ounce can cannellini (white kidney) beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 cups chopped kale or collard greens
- Salt and pepper to taste
Preparation
This soup can be made with a variety of pasta, beans and broth. Try using chicken broth with penne or rotini pasta, butter beans or black-eyed peas. Top with your favorite grated parmesan cheese.
For a soupier broth, try crushed tomatoes instead of diced tomatoes and add an extra cup or two of broth.