Minestrone
Home / Recipes / Soups / Minestrone
Minestrone
Minestrone is a hearty Italian vegetable soup loaded with beans, pasta, and whatever vegetables you have. This version simmers carrots, celery, zucchini, and tomatoes in a savory broth, then finishes with cannellini beans and small pasta. It is filling enough to be dinner on its own and flexible enough to use up the crisper drawer. A shower of Parmesan ties it together.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 zucchini, diced
- 1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 6 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
- 1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 cup small pasta such as ditalini
- 2 cups chopped fresh spinach
- 1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- grated Parmesan, for serving
Directions
- Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, and celery and cook until softened, about 7 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook 1 minute.
- Add the zucchini, diced tomatoes, broth, beans, oregano, and basil. Bring to a boil.
- Reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes to let the vegetables soften and the flavors meld.
- Stir in the pasta and cook until tender, 8 to 10 minutes.
- Add the spinach, salt, and pepper. Cook until the spinach wilts, about 2 minutes. Taste and adjust the salt.
- Ladle into bowls and top with grated Parmesan.
Tips and variations
- Cook the pasta separately and add it to each bowl if you plan to store leftovers, so it does not soak up all the broth.
- Drop a Parmesan rind into the pot while it simmers for extra savory depth, then remove it before serving.
- Swap in any vegetables you have, such as green beans, kale, or potatoes. Minestrone is built to be flexible.
- For more protein, stir in a second can of beans or some cooked Italian sausage.
Save it to your Recipe Box
Copy this one onto a 4x6 card. Title across the top, the sixteen ingredients down the left, the six steps down the right, and Serves 6, Prep 15, Cook 35 along the header. File it behind the Soups divider. Built to outlast the screenshot.
Get the Recipe Box
Common questions
- What does minestrone mean
- Minestrone is Italian for a thick, hearty vegetable soup. There is no single recipe, which is the point. It changes with the season and whatever is in the kitchen.
- Can I make minestrone in advance
- Yes. The soup base keeps for up to 4 days and tastes even better the next day. Cook the pasta separately and add it when serving so it stays firm.
- How do I make it heartier
- Add cooked sausage, more beans, or a diced potato. Serving it with crusty bread and plenty of Parmesan also makes it more filling.
- Can I freeze minestrone
- Yes, for up to 3 months. Freeze it without the pasta, then cook fresh pasta to stir in after reheating so it does not turn mushy.
More soup recipes
Keep the ones that work
When a recipe earns a repeat, it deserves a card. The Albino Monkey Recipe Box keeps your handwritten favorites on real wooden dividers, Soups through Favorites.
See the Recipe Box