Minestrone Vegetable Soup (Printable)

Hearty Italian soup with vegetables, beans, pasta and fresh herbs for a comforting meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
02 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
03 - 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
04 - 2 celery stalks, sliced
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1 medium zucchini, diced
07 - 1 medium potato, peeled and diced
08 - 1 cup green beans, chopped
09 - 1 can (14 ounces) diced tomatoes

→ Legumes & Pasta

10 - 1 can (14 ounces) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
11 - 1 cup small pasta, such as ditalini or elbow macaroni

→ Broth & Seasonings

12 - 6 cups vegetable broth
13 - 2 teaspoons dried Italian herbs, including oregano, basil, and thyme
14 - 1 bay leaf
15 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

→ Finishing Touches

16 - 2 cups baby spinach or chopped kale
17 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
18 - Freshly grated Parmesan cheese for serving, optional

# How to Make It:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion, sliced carrots, and celery. Sauté for 5 minutes until softened.
02 - Stir in minced garlic, diced zucchini, diced potato, and chopped green beans. Cook for 3 additional minutes.
03 - Add diced tomatoes, drained cannellini beans, vegetable broth, dried Italian herbs, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil over high heat.
04 - Reduce heat to low, cover the pot, and simmer for 20 minutes until vegetables begin to soften.
05 - Stir in the pasta and simmer uncovered for 8 to 10 minutes until pasta and vegetables are tender.
06 - Remove the bay leaf. Add spinach or kale and cook for 2 minutes until wilted.
07 - Adjust seasoning with salt and freshly ground black pepper according to preference.
08 - Ladle soup into bowls, garnish with fresh chopped parsley, and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese if desired.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • This soup miraculously improves overnight, making it the perfect make-ahead meal that saves you on busy weeknights.
  • Every spoonful offers something different a tender bean, a bite of pasta, a snippet of green making each bowl an adventure rather than just sustenance.
02 -
  • Adding pasta directly to the soup pot means itll continue absorbing broth as it sits, so either cook it separately or prepare for a thicker soup when enjoying leftovers.
  • A secret Ive learned from Italian grandmothers is to toss a Parmesan rind into the simmering broth it wont fully dissolve but infuses the soup with an incredible umami richness.
03 -
  • Cut all your vegetables to roughly the same size to ensure everything cooks evenly and each spoonful offers a perfect balance of textures.
  • Reserve a cup of the cooking broth before adding pasta if youre planning for leftovers, then use this liquid to thin the soup when reheating.
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