An Edible Mosaic™

Everyday Fare With Extraordinary Flair

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Home » Type » Soups » Minestrone

Minestrone

January 13, 2011 by Faith 50 Comments

I know, I know, what happened to my soup/stew strike?  Lol, I guess that was a lot of big talk (the moral of that story is never believe me if I swear off soup!).  This time of year I really can’t stay away too long from a warm and comforting bowl of goodness, plus I’m on the popular mission to empty out my freezer/pantry; since this soup uses a few different canned items, it helped make a small dent in my stash.  (Every little bit helps when you’re cleaning out your pantry, right?)  And just look at all the goodies in this bowl…it’s chock full of vitamin-rich veggies, plus it’s meat-free so it’s filling without being too heavy. 

Another nice thing about Minestrone is that you can customize it with any veggies you have on hand.  Zucchini, mushrooms, green beans, and peas are a few more of my favorites…it’s a great way to clean out your fridge!

Minestrone

(Yield:  4-6 servings)

3 oz small pasta, any shape you like (such as ditalini, orzo, or shells)

4 c vegetable, chicken, or beef stock*

1 medium-large onion, diced

4 medium or 3 large carrots, peeled and sliced

2 large stalks celery, diced

2-3 large cloves garlic, minced

1 (14 oz) can diced tomatoes, with juices

2 TB tomato paste

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce*

1 bay leaf

1 tsp minced fresh thyme (or 1/3 tsp dried)

1 tsp dried Italian herb seasoning

3 oz (about 4 c lightly packed) fresh baby spinach (or you can use regular spinach, coarsely chopped)

1 (15 oz) can beans (such as cannellini, garbanzo, or kidney), drained and rinsed

Salt and pepper

Freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese (for garnish)

*To make this vegetarian, use vegetable stock and omit the Worcestershire sauce.

Prepare pasta to al dente according to package directions.

In a 3-quart pot with a lid, combine stock, onion, carrot, celery, garlic, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaf, thyme, Italian herb seasoning, and a pinch of salt and pepper.  Bring up to a boil, then cover (leaving lid slightly ajar), turn heat down to a simmer, and cook until veggies are tender (about 20 minutes), stirring occasionally. 

Add spinach, beans, and cooked pasta and cook a couple minutes until spinach is wilted.  Taste and season with salt and pepper as desired.  Serve garnished with freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano if desired.

Filed Under: Soups, Vegetarian Tagged: Beans, Minestrone, Pasta, Recipes, Soups, Vegetables, Vegetarian-Friendly

Comments

  1. Magic of Spice says

    January 17, 2011 at 10:28 pm

    Definitely a favorite of mine…and loving your recipe, the worcestershire is unique for me…Very nice :)

    Reply
  2. Emily Z says

    January 17, 2011 at 3:11 pm

    This looks so perfect for this time of year. I agree, this time of year it is hard to swear off soups and stews! I have been wanting to make a minestrone for a while now… yours looks wonderful!

    Reply
  3. Dana says

    January 17, 2011 at 1:10 pm

    This is so up my alley! I love soup (if you couldn’t tell from all of my recent soup posts LOL). This sounds hearty but not heavy. Perfect for a warm winter lunch!

    Reply
  4. Crazy Sweet Life (Brianna) says

    January 15, 2011 at 11:27 am

    This looks sooo good! I’ve never made minestrone soup, but I’d love to try – your recipe sounds really yummy and healthy!

    Reply
  5. [email protected] says

    January 15, 2011 at 10:33 am

    Very hearty lunch there, and the cheese on top a great touch. Shall we call you the other soup nazi?

    Reply
  6. Anna Johnston says

    January 15, 2011 at 3:31 am

    Minestrone = nom nom nom nom :) We’re enjoying a wonderful hot summer’s day down here in the land down under, but I could easily tuck into a bowl of this fine stuff Faith, it looks wonderful.

    Reply
  7. grace says

    January 15, 2011 at 1:38 am

    a good soup is simply impossible to resist, strike or not, and this definitely qualifies as a good one!

    Reply
  8. Carolyn Jung says

    January 14, 2011 at 9:52 pm

    That looks like one of the most inviting renditions of minestrone I’ve ever seen. I’m especially drooling over those plump noodles picking out of the bowl. ;)

    Reply
  9. Monica says

    January 14, 2011 at 7:49 pm

    I cannot wait to try this!! I haven’t been brave enough to try making homemade soup yet but this looks sooo good I’m buying the ingredients this weekend! :)

    Reply
  10. A Canadian Foodie says

    January 14, 2011 at 3:02 pm

    Faith! This looks mouth watering – lemon and capers are perfect together. I always want to eat your food. Everything you make appeals to me. Vanja does not like lemon on anything savoury, so I will NOT bookmark this – but I am tasting it in my mind and all I can say is… I wish. As this would not be hard for me to make and would really be bright and lively and tasty.
    \”)
    Valerie

    Reply
  11. A Canadian Foodie says

    January 14, 2011 at 1:55 pm

    Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!! It is so cold here and the snow is so high that it absolutely is soup season and I am a soup lover. YUM! I have been looking for a really good minestrone recipe and this looks like a winner. I am in!!!
    :)
    Valerie

    Reply
  12. Heavenly Housewife says

    January 14, 2011 at 9:51 am

    I am always on a soup strike, I am just not a soup person. THat being said, rarely do I see a soup that is as tempting looking as yours.
    Have a wonderful weekend ahead.
    *kisses* HH

    Reply
  13. Rich says

    January 14, 2011 at 8:52 am

    Faith, I am glad to see the end of the soup strike, because that means we wouldn’t have been treated too this – it looks fantastic!

    Reply
  14. Sharon says

    January 14, 2011 at 8:49 am

    I love recipes where I can throw anything I have in a fridge together and make a great dish! This looks amazing! I love how you put pasta into it too. I’ve only ever seen minestrone that is just the soup. YUM, would love a big bowl right now. Perfect for this cold weather!

    Reply
  15. [email protected] Busy Nest says

    January 14, 2011 at 7:03 am

    I love the name and subtitle of your blog. The minestrone looks wonderful.
    http://www.abusynest.com/

    Reply
  16. Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says

    January 14, 2011 at 5:07 am

    I love soups that are a hearty meal in themselves and minestrone is a great example of this! And I haven’t bought that shape pasta is years but it used to be my favourite when I was small! :D

    Reply
  17. delphcotecuisine says

    January 14, 2011 at 4:47 am

    yours looks so yummy and warmy
    thanks for sharing
    have a nice day
    Delphine

    Reply
  18. Cherine says

    January 14, 2011 at 3:12 am

    One of my favorite soups! Yours look wonderful!

    Reply
  19. Cara says

    January 14, 2011 at 3:00 am

    Minestrone is one of my favs. I love how customizable it is.

    Reply
  20. Angie's Recipes says

    January 14, 2011 at 12:21 am

    I wish I cook soups as good as you…mine always looks…no idea..just okay…yours looks to die for!

    Reply
  21. Aipi says

    January 13, 2011 at 11:17 pm

    Sounds like a delicious, comforting soup on a cold day..beautiful picture!

    Reply
  22. Veronica says

    January 13, 2011 at 10:23 pm

    Oh, this looks so hot and refreshingly light–perfect for this weather and it won’t bog you down!

    Reply
  23. Lisa says

    January 13, 2011 at 9:02 pm

    When I was a kid, I hated minestrone. Really…thought it was gross and wanted to gag even smelling it. What was wrong with me? It’s so delicious, and yours looks amazing!

    Reply
  24. tasteofbeirut says

    January 13, 2011 at 8:46 pm

    Minstrone is one soup I love but get so disappointed with when I (rarely) order it in eateries; it needs to be made with care to be good, and not reheated from a can like the commercial ones; yours sounds delicious.

    Reply
  25. [email protected] says

    January 13, 2011 at 8:40 pm

    Although I love minestrone, mine always has a sad forlorn look… sort of beige even if it’s tasty. Yours looks so vibrant and alive.. great looking soup, must try a less cooked to death version!

    Reply
  26. BeadedTail says

    January 13, 2011 at 7:35 pm

    That looks so hearty and yummy! I’ve been in a soup mood lately so you can show soup recipes any day!

    Reply
  27. Anh says

    January 13, 2011 at 7:15 pm

    I will never say no to a bowl of goodness like this :)

    Reply
  28. coco says

    January 13, 2011 at 6:32 pm

    I’d love to have a bowl of minestrone soup! It’s so comforting! It has everything that I like about soups! :D

    Reply
  29. Shari says

    January 13, 2011 at 6:05 pm

    Everything on your blog looks so good – I just don’t know which recipe to scribble down and try tonight! I’m so glad that I stumbled across your blog after reading a post from Mission: Food where you were awarded an award (Congratulations – I can see why).

    Shari from http://www.goodfoodweek.blogspot.com

    Reply
  30. Michele @ Healthy Cultivations says

    January 13, 2011 at 4:57 pm

    This soup looks wonderful… both the photography and the meal. I can’t wait until later this year when I can invest in a dSLR.

    Reply
  31. Michele Napoli says

    January 13, 2011 at 4:52 pm

    I love the concept of “using up” what I have on hand. This soup looks so tasty for these cold winter days.

    Reply
  32. Maria @ Scandi Foodie says

    January 13, 2011 at 3:40 pm

    Such a lovely hearty soup Faith! I can’t wait for the cooler weather here in Sydney!

    Reply
  33. Geni says

    January 13, 2011 at 3:21 pm

    Faith…that photo is BEE-U-TI-FUL! Seriously. I am so jealous of your mad photo skills. The soup looks so vibrant and tasty.

    Reply
  34. marla {family fresh cooking} says

    January 13, 2011 at 3:21 pm

    Beautiful minestrone soup Faith. Just a little cheese on the top adds so much greatness :) xo

    Reply
  35. MAry says

    January 13, 2011 at 3:10 pm

    That is a gorgeous looking bowl of soup. No one would be able to resist it. I’ll wager it is as tasty as it is beautiful. I hope you have a great day. Blessings…Mary

    Reply
  36. Blond Duck says

    January 13, 2011 at 2:52 pm

    Minestrone is one of Ben’s favorite soups!

    Reply
  37. priyanka says

    January 13, 2011 at 2:47 pm

    Soups or stews are just the kind of food you crave in winter and they never fail to hit the spot.

    Reply
  38. Nourhan @ Miss Anthropist's Kitchen says

    January 13, 2011 at 1:50 pm

    I NEED to try this–that is one of the most tempting pictures of soup I’ve ever seen! Thank you! :)

    Reply
  39. Diane says

    January 13, 2011 at 1:42 pm

    I love minestrone, thanks for the reminder I have not made it for ages. Diane

    Reply
  40. lequan says

    January 13, 2011 at 1:41 pm

    Oooh, this looks so warm, hearty, and delicious. I’d love a bowl of this right now, or later, or tonight, or heck, all day long. My kind of comfort food after a tough hour of shoveling. I love that this is meatless as well. You’ve used such hearty ingredients that it would be wrong not to make this. Definitely going into my bookmarks for sure. Thanks Faith!

    Reply
  41. swathi says

    January 13, 2011 at 12:49 pm

    Looks delicious, it is one soup you can add what ever you like. I love them, good for this winter.

    Reply
  42. Carol says

    January 13, 2011 at 12:24 pm

    Great looking soup, nice and hearty! Can’t get enough soup with this snow weather we have, soup is perfect!

    Reply
  43. something_good says

    January 13, 2011 at 12:16 pm

    great pictures! and your minestrone looks delicious. we are in love with soups and our resolution is to keep inventing and trying so we could have 365 awesome soups, one for each day of the year.

    Reply
  44. Diedra says

    January 13, 2011 at 11:50 am

    I am making this right now (sans the spinach, since that’s the only ingredient I don’t have on hand)! Thanks!

    Reply
  45. Nicole, RD says

    January 13, 2011 at 11:45 am

    With all this snow, minestrone is on my menu for next week. I have a recipe I love, but I’ll give yours a go! I’m always up for a change! And so long as the minestrone has spinach, I’m a happy camper! It looks delicious, Faith!!

    Reply
  46. Katerina says

    January 13, 2011 at 11:33 am

    Minestrone is such a versatile soup you can add and take out anything you like or dislike. That’s why I don’t make any resolutions. I cannot keep them more than a few days. It is like something is pinching me not to do what I promise lol! I love your soup.

    Reply
  47. Lentil Breakdown says

    January 13, 2011 at 11:13 am

    I could even eat it right now for breakfast.

    Reply
  48. Rosa says

    January 13, 2011 at 11:02 am

    Minestrone is delicious and so good during the wintertime.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

    Reply
  49. Steve @ HPD says

    January 13, 2011 at 10:41 am

    Your soup and a loaf of fresh bread, maybe some Chianti, and I’ll no longer care how cold it is outside.

    Reply
  50. chriesi says

    January 13, 2011 at 10:25 am

    Lovely! It is perfect in this cold, windy and rainy weather. It is also on my cooking list for this week.

    Reply

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Hello and welcome to An Edible Mosaic! This is my recipe collection of international favorites and updated American classics with an emphasis on seasonal dishes. Here you’ll find a focus on real foods that sustain body and mind, bring people together, and make a house a home.

 

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meet faith

I’m Faith Gorsky, the writer, cook, and photographer behind An Edible Mosaic. My goal is to inspire you to get in the kitchen and try something new! Feel free to email me with questions or comments.

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affiliate disclosure

An Edible Mosaic is monetized in part though affiliate links, and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that if you click on an affiliate link and/or purchase an item after clicking on an affiliate link, I may receive a percentage of the sales price. I only recommend products that I love and use. To learn more, please read my Privacy Policy.

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