Hearty Italian Minestrone Soup (Printable)

A hearty bowl brimming with fresh vegetables, beans, and pasta in herb-infused broth.

# What You 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 Steps:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add diced onion, sliced carrots, and celery. Sauté for 5 minutes until vegetables are 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 to the pot. Bring to a rolling boil.
04 - Reduce heat to low, cover the pot, and simmer for 20 minutes to allow flavors to meld and vegetables to become tender.
05 - Stir in pasta and simmer uncovered for 8 to 10 minutes until pasta and vegetables reach desired tenderness.
06 - Remove bay leaf from soup. Add spinach or kale and cook for 2 minutes until wilted into the broth.
07 - Adjust seasoning with salt and freshly ground black pepper according to preference.
08 - Ladle soup into bowls, garnish with fresh chopped parsley, and top with grated Parmesan cheese if desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Every spoonful offers a different combination of vegetables, pasta and beans, creating this delightful treasure hunt of textures and flavors.
  • The recipe forgives substitutions based on whatever produce is sitting in your crisper drawer, making it perfect for those before grocery shopping days.
02 -
  • The pasta continues absorbing broth even after cooking, so if making ahead, either cook pasta separately and add when serving or be prepared to add more broth when reheating.
  • A Parmesan cheese rind tossed into the simmering soup creates incredible depth of flavor without overwhelming the vegetables, something I discovered by accident when cleaning out my cheese drawer.
03 -
  • Chop vegetables to roughly the same size so they cook evenly, avoiding the frustration of having some vegetables mushy while others remain too firm.
  • Save Parmesan rinds in your freezer specifically for dropping into simmering soups like this one, where they slowly melt and release incredible umami depth that transforms an ordinary broth into something extraordinary.
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