Italian Minestrone Soup – Hearty Italian Comfort Bowl
A cozy, vegetable-packed Italian soup made with tomatoes, beans, pasta, zucchini, carrots, celery, and herbs. Minestrone is traditionally flexible, so vegetables can be adjusted according to what you have available.
Ingredients
2 tbsp olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
2 carrots, diced
2 celery stalks, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 can (14–15 oz) diced tomatoes
6 cups vegetable or chicken broth
1 medium potato, peeled and diced
1 medium zucchini, diced
1 can (15 oz) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup green beans, chopped
1 cup baby spinach or kale, chopped
¾ cup small pasta such as ditalini
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried thyme
1 bay leaf
½ tsp red pepper flakes, optional
Salt and black pepper, to taste
1 Parmesan rind, optional
1–2 tbsp fresh parsley or basil, chopped
Grated Parmesan, for serving
1 tsp fresh lemon juice, optional
Instructions
Sauté the vegetables: Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery. Cook for 5–7 minutes, until they begin to soften.
Add the garlic and cook for another 30–60 seconds.
Build the tomato base: Stir in the tomato paste, oregano, thyme, and red pepper flakes. Cook for 1–2 minutes.
Add the broth: Pour in the diced tomatoes and broth. Add the potato, bay leaf, and Parmesan rind if using. Bring to a boil.
Simmer: Reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for about 15 minutes, or until the potato is almost tender.
Add zucchini and beans: Stir in the zucchini, green beans, and cannellini beans. Simmer for another 5–7 minutes.
Add pasta and greens: Stir in the pasta and spinach or kale. Cook according to the pasta package directions, usually 8–10 minutes, until the pasta is al dente and the greens are wilted.
Season: Remove the bay leaf and Parmesan rind. Taste and add salt and black pepper as needed.
Stir in fresh lemon juice if desired for a little brightness.
Serve: Ladle the hot soup into bowls and top with fresh basil or parsley and grated Parmesan.
Serving Tips
Serve with crusty Italian bread, garlic bread, or a simple green salad. For meal prep, you can cook the pasta separately and add it when serving so it doesn’t absorb too much broth.
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 35–45 minutes
Total time: about 50–60 minutes
Servings: 6–8
