Hearty Italian Vegetable Minestrone (Printable version)

Hearty Italian soup with pasta, beans, tomatoes, and fresh vegetables in aromatic herb broth.

# Needed ingredients:

→ 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 it:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion, celery, and carrots. Sauté for 5 minutes until 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, oregano, basil, thyme, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
04 - Add pasta and beans. 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. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Ladle into bowls, garnish with additional fresh parsley, and serve hot.

# Expert advice:

01 -
  • It turns a random assortment of garden vegetables into a cohesive and deeply flavorful meal.
  • The beans and pasta make it filling enough to stand alone as a complete dinner without needing a side.
02 -
  • The pasta will continue to soak up liquid as it sits, so add extra broth if you plan on leftovers.
  • Adding the tomato paste directly to the hot vegetables before the liquid unlocks a much richer color and taste.
03 -
  • Rinse your canned beans thoroughly to remove the metallic taste and excess sodium.
  • If the soup gets too thick the next day, simply add a splash of water or broth while reheating.
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