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Hearty Classic Minestrone Soup Recipe Easy Homemade with Fresh Vegetables

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A comforting and nourishing classic minestrone soup made with fresh vegetables, beans, and a savory broth. Perfect for cozy dinners and adaptable to seasonal ingredients.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 carrots, diced
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 1 zucchini, chopped
  • 2 cups fresh tomatoes, chopped (or canned crushed tomatoes)
  • 6 cups vegetable broth (low sodium preferred)
  • 1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
  • ½ cup small pasta such as ditalini or elbow macaroni (optional)
  • 2 cups fresh spinach or kale, roughly chopped
  • Fresh basil leaves, chiffonade (for garnish)
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving (optional)

Instructions

  1. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pot over medium heat until shimmering but not smoking, about 3-4 minutes.
  2. Add chopped onion, garlic, carrots, and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables soften and onion is translucent, about 7-8 minutes.
  3. Add diced zucchini and fresh tomatoes. Stir and cook for 3-4 minutes to meld flavors.
  4. Pour in 6 cups of vegetable broth, scraping the bottom of the pot to release browned bits. Bring to a gentle boil.
  5. Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for about 20 minutes until vegetables are tender but not mushy.
  6. Stir in rinsed cannellini beans and ½ cup pasta. Continue simmering for 10 minutes or until pasta is al dente.
  7. Add chopped spinach or kale during the last 3-4 minutes of cooking to wilt.
  8. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
  9. Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with fresh basil leaves and grated Parmesan cheese if desired. Drizzle with olive oil to finish.

Notes

Keep stirring occasionally during simmering to prevent pasta from sticking. Add more broth or water if soup thickens too much. Add fresh herbs at the end to preserve brightness. Adjust salt gradually to avoid over-salting. For gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta or omit pasta. For dairy-free, skip Parmesan or use nutritional yeast.

Nutrition

Keywords: minestrone soup, classic soup, vegetable soup, easy soup recipe, homemade minestrone, healthy soup, vegetarian soup, gluten-free option

Find it online: https://evabake.com/hearty-classic-minestrone-soup-recipe-easy-homemade-with-fresh-vegetables/