Vegetable Minestrone Variations (Printable Version)

Hearty Italian soup with seasonal vegetables, pasta, and creamy beans. Adaptable year-round.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
02 - 1 medium onion, diced
03 - 2 carrots, diced
04 - 2 celery stalks, diced
05 - 1 small zucchini, diced or 1 small butternut squash, diced
06 - 1 cup green beans, chopped or 1 cup chopped kale or spinach
07 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 1 can (14 ounces) diced tomatoes
09 - 1 medium potato, peeled and diced

→ Broth and Beans

10 - 6 cups vegetable broth
11 - 1 can (15 ounces) cannellini or borlotti beans, drained and rinsed
12 - 3.5 ounces small pasta such as ditalini, elbow, or shells
13 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Herbs and Seasonings

14 - 1 bay leaf
15 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
16 - 1 teaspoon dried basil
17 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
18 - Grated Parmesan cheese for serving

# How To Make:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion, carrots, and celery; sauté for 5 minutes until softened and fragrant.
02 - Stir in minced garlic, zucchini or squash, and green beans or kale. Cook for 3 minutes until vegetables begin to release their flavors.
03 - Add diced tomatoes, diced potato, and bay leaf. Cook for 2 minutes, then pour in the vegetable broth and bring to a boil.
04 - Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes, allowing vegetables to soften and flavors to meld.
05 - Add beans and pasta. Simmer uncovered for 10 to 12 minutes until pasta and vegetables are tender. Remove bay leaf.
06 - Season with oregano, basil, salt, and pepper to taste. Stir in chopped fresh parsley. Ladle into bowls and top with grated Parmesan if desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It acts like a blank canvas for whatever lonely vegetables are sitting in your crisper drawer.
  • The broth gets richer the longer it sits making leftovers even better than the first bowl.
02 -
  • If you overcook the pasta it will soak up all the broth and turn into a thick stew.
  • Adding a leftover Parmesan rind to the simmering pot adds a deep savory umami you cannot get elsewhere.
03 -
  • Wait to add the salt until after the beans have simmered to keep them from getting tough.
  • Rinse your beans thoroughly to remove the metallic taste from the canning liquid.
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