Recipe: Yummy Minestrone

Minestrone. In a stockpot, saute the onions, celery and parsley in oil until tender. Stir in the broth, tomatoes, tomato sauce, cabbage, carrots, basil, salt and pepper. I created this soup after becoming tired of the excess salt and lack of veggies in canned minestrone.

Minestrone (/ ˌ m ɪ n ɪ s ˈ t r oʊ n i /; Italian: [mineˈstroːne]) is a thick soup of Italian origin made with vegetables, often with the addition of pasta or rice, sometimes both. Common ingredients include beans, onions, celery, carrots, stock, and tomatoes. There is no set recipe for minestrone, since it can be usually made out of whatever vegetables are at one's disposal. You can have Minestrone using 19 ingredients and 3 steps. Here is how you achieve it.

Ingredients of Minestrone

1. It's 32 oz. of vegetable broth.
2. It's 15 oz. of chicken broth.
3. Prepare 2 T of tomato paste.
4. It's 1-1/2 tsp. of oregano.
5. You need 1/2 tsp. of basil.
6. Prepare 1/4 tsp. of sage.
7. It's 1 tsp. of salt.
8. You need 1/4 tsp. of black pepper.
9. It's 2 of bay leaves.
10. You need 3 of carrots or 1/2 bag baby bite size.
11. It's 3 of celery stalks bite size.
12. Prepare of small onion bite size.
13. It's 4 of garlic sprigs minced.
14. You need 1 of large potato bite size.
15. You need bag of frozen cut green beans.
16. Prepare 15 oz. of can black beans rinsed.
17. It's 15 oz. of diced tomatoes.
18. You need 4 cups of baby spinach.
19. It's 1 cup of noodles.

Minestrone means 'big soup' in Italian, and this soup is sure to satisfy even the biggest of appetites. Served with a crisp loaf of bread, it's a meal in itself! I nixed the potatoes, added extra celery, zuchini, green beans and carrots. Minestrone typically includes lots of leafy greens, other veggies, and beans.

Minestrone step by step

1. Add all ingredients to pot except spinach and noodles. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer 1/2 hour. Discard bay leaves. Add spinach and noodles and simmer another 10 minutes or until pasta is tender..
2. In crock pot: Add all ingredients to pot except spinach and noodles. Cook on low for 8 - 10 hours or high for 3 - 5. Discard bay leaves. Add spinach and noodles 15 minutes before you're ready to serve or until pasta is tender..
3. Serve with parmesan cheese or cheese of choice, crackers and bread. If you're on a diet like I am skip this step :).

You're only limited by the contents of your refrigerator and pantry. This beloved Italian soup isn't just hearty and healthy -- it's really flexible. Minestrone typically includes lots of leafy greens, other veggies, and beans. Minestrone is ready to serve when pasta (rice) is cooked. Can I prepare Italian Minestrone Soup in advance?