Minestrone Vegetable Soup (Printable Version)

Hearty Italian soup with seasonal vegetables, beans, pasta, and fresh herbs

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
02 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 2 medium carrots, diced
05 - 2 celery stalks, diced
06 - 1 medium zucchini, diced
07 - 1 medium potato, peeled and diced
08 - 1 cup green beans, cut into 1-inch pieces
09 - 1 (14 oz) can diced tomatoes, with juices
10 - 4 cups vegetable broth
11 - 2 cups water

→ Beans & Pasta

12 - 1 (15 oz) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
13 - 3/4 cup small pasta (ditalini or elbow macaroni)

→ Seasonings & Herbs

14 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
15 - 1 teaspoon dried basil
16 - 1 bay leaf
17 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
18 - 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
19 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil (optional)

→ Garnish (optional)

20 - Freshly grated Parmesan cheese

# How to Make It:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, sauté for 2–3 minutes until fragrant and translucent.
02 - Add carrots, celery, zucchini, potato, and green beans. Sauté for 5–6 minutes until slightly softened.
03 - Stir in diced tomatoes with juices, vegetable broth, and water. Add dried oregano, dried basil, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil.
04 - Reduce heat to a simmer, cover, and cook for 15 minutes.
05 - Add cannellini beans and pasta. Continue to simmer, uncovered, for 10–12 minutes, or until pasta and vegetables are tender.
06 - Remove and discard the bay leaf. Stir in fresh parsley and basil. Adjust seasoning as needed.
07 - Ladle into bowls and garnish with grated Parmesan cheese, if desired. Serve hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Its the kind of soup that tastes even better the next day, so youre basically meal prepping while making dinner
  • You can swap vegetables based on what's in your fridge or what looks good at the market
  • Something magical happens when pasta simmers directly in broth, creating that silky comfort you can only get from homemade soup
02 -
  • The pasta will absorb liquid as it sits, so your soup might thicken considerably in the fridge, simply add water when reheating
  • Don't add the pasta too early or it will turn to mush, timing is everything here
03 -
  • Use a vegetable peeler to shave Parmesan directly into bowls instead of grating it, you get these elegant ribbons that melt beautifully into the hot soup
  • Save Parmesan rinds in your freezer and add one to the simmering broth for incredible depth of flavor
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