Hearty Minestrone Soup 🍲🥕

Warm up with this delicious and nourishing Minestrone Soup! It’s packed with fresh vegetables and beans, making it a perfect dish for any season. Whether it’s a chilly evening or a quick weeknight dinner, this soup is sure to satisfy. Top it with cheese for that extra flavor burst and enjoy it with a crusty slice of bread.

Ingredients

For the soup

• 4 tablespoons butter or margarine
• 3/4 cup chopped onion
• 1/4 cup chopped celery
• 1/2 cup chopped carrots
• 1 (19 ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
• 1/2 cup shredded cabbage
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can stewed tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 1/2 cups cubed potatoes
• 1 quart chicken or vegetable broth
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons dried parsley
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup elbow macaroni
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

Instructions

• In a heavy pot, melt the butter over medium heat.
• Add chopped onion, celery, and carrots, and sauté for about 5 minutes until the vegetables begin to soften.

🥕 Sautéing the vegetables first deepens their flavor and creates a delicious base for your soup!

• Stir in the cannellini beans, cabbage, stewed tomatoes, tomato paste, cubed potatoes, broth, garlic, parsley, and salt.

• Bring the mixture to a boil, cover, and reduce the heat. Simmer for approximately 1 hour until the vegetables are tender.

• Add the elbow macaroni and simmer for an additional 30 minutes.

• Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.

🌿 For added freshness, sprinkle some fresh herbs just before serving!

• Serve hot, topped with grated cheese and enjoy with a slice of your favorite bread.

Variations

• Vegetarian/Vegan: Swap the chicken broth for vegetable broth and omit the cheese.
• Add More Greens: Spinach or kale can easily be added in the last few minutes of cooking for an extra boost of nutrients! 🥬
• Spicy Kick: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes while sautéing for some heat.
• Pasta Variations: Feel free to use any pasta shape you have on hand, or even add whole grain pasta for extra fiber.

Tips

🥣 This soup tastes even better the next day, so consider making a larger batch for leftovers! You can freeze any leftover soup—just remember to leave out the pasta, as it may become mushy upon reheating. Instead, cook fresh pasta when you're ready to enjoy it again!

With this comforting Minestrone Soup, you’ll have a delightful meal that’s both filling and full of flavor! Enjoy! 🍽️