Quick and Hearty Minestrone Soup
This quick minestrone soup is hearty, simple to make, and ready in under 45 minutes, perfect for warming up on chilly days. The recipe was torn out of a calendar from the year I was born and still remains one of my favourite regular soup recipes.
Ingredients
Minestrone Soup
- 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 lb 3 large Italian sausages casings removed
- 1 large onion finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 cup carrots chopped
- 1 cup celery chopped
- ¾ cup bell pepper chopped
- 2 tsp dried parsley
- ½ tsp dried basil
- ¼ tsp dried thyme
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tsp fine sea salt or more to taste
- 1 bay leaf
- 28 oz can diced tomatoes
- 4 cups chicken or beef broth
- 2 cups green cabbage shredded
- 2 (15 oz cans) kidney beans drained and rinsed
- 1-2 inch piece of Parmesan rind*
To Serve
- about ¼ cup cooked small noodle pasta per serving** cooked and set aside
Directions
- In a large pot, add half of the oil and heat over medium. Add the sausage to the pot and cook until no longer pink and lightly browned.
- Now add the remaining oil and the onion, garlic,carrot, celery, and bell pepper. Cook for about 5 minutes or until the onions are translucent.
- Add the spices (except for the bay leaf) and stir to combine. Cook for 30-60 seconds until fragrant.
- Add the diced tomatoes (or pureed if preferred),broth, cabbage, beans, bay leaf, and optionally the parmesan rind. Stir to combine and bring to a simmer.
- Cook for 15-20 minutes until vegetables are tender. Remove the bay leaf and parmesan rind.
- Adjust seasonings and serve with a scoop of cooked pasta. Enjoy!
Notes
Parmesan Rind*: Optional, omit for dairy free or add 1 tbsp nutritional yeast.
Pasta**: Can use gluten free or regular pasta. Add pasta to individual bowls before serving, do not store the cooked noodles with the soup – the noodles will get too soft.
Nutrition Per Serving, not incl. pasta : Calories 325 kcal | Carbohydrates 33 g | Protein 19.4 g | Fat 13.6 g | Sodium 1,438 mg | Potassium 445.7 mg | Fiber 7.2 g | Vitamin A 317 μg | Vitamin K 66.4 mg | Calcium: 136 mg | Iron: 4.1 mg