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Cozy Classic Minestrone with Italian Sausage and Parmesan

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A hearty and comforting minestrone soup featuring browned Italian sausage, fresh vegetables, cannellini beans, and Parmesan cheese, perfect for cozy winter evenings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 ounces Italian sausage, casing removed (sweet or spicy)
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 medium zucchini, diced
  • 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, no salt added
  • 6 cups chicken broth (homemade or low-sodium store-bought)
  • 1 (15 oz) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
  • 3/4 cup small pasta (ditalini or elbow macaroni)
  • 2 cups loosely packed fresh spinach, roughly chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (about 50g), plus extra for serving
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • Red pepper flakes, optional pinch

Instructions

  1. Prepare your ingredients: dice onion, carrots, celery, zucchini; mince garlic; chop parsley and spinach; rinse beans and drain canned tomatoes. Prep time about 10 minutes.
  2. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Add Italian sausage, breaking it apart, and cook until browned and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Remove sausage with slotted spoon and set aside, leaving fat in pot.
  3. Add diced onion, carrots, and celery to pot. Stir occasionally and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute, careful not to burn.
  4. Add diced zucchini and canned tomatoes with juice. Stir and cook for 3-4 minutes until zucchini softens slightly.
  5. Pour in 6 cups chicken broth and add rinsed cannellini beans. Bring to a gentle boil, scraping bottom of pot to loosen browned bits.
  6. Stir in 3/4 cup small pasta. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered for about 10 minutes until pasta is tender, stirring occasionally.
  7. Return browned sausage to pot and add chopped spinach. Stir and cook for 2-3 minutes until spinach wilts.
  8. Remove soup from heat and stir in 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese. Season with salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes to taste.
  9. Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with extra Parmesan and fresh parsley. Serve immediately.

Notes

If soup thickens too much when reheating, add a splash of broth or water. Prepare vegetables the night before to save time. Use fresh Parmesan for best melting and flavor. For gluten-free, substitute pasta with gluten-free pasta or omit. For dairy-free, omit Parmesan or use plant-based alternative. Avoid overcooking pasta to prevent mushiness.

Nutrition

Keywords: minestrone, Italian sausage, Parmesan, soup, winter recipe, cozy dinner, easy soup, hearty soup

Find it online: https://evabake.com/cozy-classic-minestrone-with-italian-sausage-and-parmesan-recipe-perfect-for-winter/