Minestrone Soup
Total Time
1 hour and 5 minutes
Prep Time
20 minutes
Cook Time
45 minutes
Rating
4.96 out of 5 stars
(107)
Ingredients
5 servings
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 150g / 5oz bacon (, finely chopped)
- 1 onion (, chopped)
- 2 garlic cloves (, minced)
- 800g/ 28oz crushed tomato (or 700g passata)
- 2 cups chicken stock/broth (, low sodium)
- 2 cups water
- 3 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 400g/ 14oz canned kidney beans (, drained)
- 1 tsp EACH salt and pepper
- 1 cup small pasta (, like ditalini, tiny shells, risoni/orzo, baby macaroni, alphabet or star pasta)
- 1/4 cup parmesan (, grated)
- 1 celery rib* (, chopped 1.5cm / 1/2" pieces)
- 1 large carrot* (, peeled and diced 1.5cm / 1/2" pieces)
- 1 zucchini* (, chopped 1.5cm / 1/2" pieces)
- 1 potato* (, cut into 1.5cm / 1/2" pieces (peel if needed)
- 100g / 3oz green beans* (, trimmed then cut into 2cm / 3/5" lengths)
- 2oz/ 60g baby spinach (or frozen spinach, kale or similar - can leave out)
- More parmesan
- Chopped parsley
- Crusty bread for dunking!
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Preparation
Step 1
Heat oil over high heat in a very large pot.
Step 2
Add bacon, cook until starting to turn golden (~2 min) then add garlic and onion.
Step 3
Cook until onion is translucent and bacon is light golden ~ 2minutes.
Step 4
Add carrot, celery and zucchini. Stir for 1 minute to coat in flavour.
Step 5
Add crushed tomato, chicken stock, water, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, kidney beans, salt and pepper.
Step 6
Stir, bring to simmer, then place lid on and adjust heat so it's simmering gently.
Step 7
Simmer 20 minutes, then add potato and beans.
Step 8
Simmer 5 minutes, then add pasta. Cook for time per pasta packet MINUS 1 1/2 minutes.
Step 9
Remove from stove, stir through parmesan and baby spinach. Taste and adjust for salt and pepper.
Step 10
Serve, garnished with extra parmesan and a sprinkle of parsley if desired. Warm crusty bread on the side would certainly be the cherry on top!
Step 11
Save recipe for the next time?
