Hearty Italian Minestrone Soup (Print Version)

Italian soup brimming with vegetables, beans, pasta, and fresh herbs for a comforting, nutritious bowl.

# What You’ll 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 oz) diced tomatoes

→ Legumes and Pasta

10 - 1 can (14 oz) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
11 - 1 cup small pasta such as ditalini or elbow macaroni

→ Broth and Seasonings

12 - 6 cups vegetable broth
13 - 2 teaspoons dried Italian herbs
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

# Step-by-Step:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté for 5 minutes until vegetables soften.
02 - Stir in minced garlic, diced zucchini, diced potato, and chopped green beans. Cook for 3 minutes.
03 - Add diced tomatoes, drained cannellini beans, vegetable broth, dried Italian herbs, and bay leaf. Bring mixture to a boil.
04 - Reduce heat to medium-low, cover pot, and simmer for 20 minutes until vegetables are nearly 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 pot. Add spinach or kale and cook for 2 minutes until wilted.
07 - Adjust seasoning with salt and freshly ground black pepper according to preference.
08 - Ladle soup into bowls, garnish with fresh parsley, and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It's endlessly forgiving—your vegetables don't have to be perfect, and substitutions happen naturally without fussing.
  • One pot, minimal cleanup, maximum comfort, which means you'll actually make it on a regular Tuesday.
  • It tastes better the next day, so leftovers are genuinely exciting rather than a chore.
02 -
  • The pasta will keep absorbing broth after cooking, so if you're making this ahead, store the pasta separately and stir it in just before serving—future you will appreciate the texture staying right.
  • A Parmesan rind thrown in during the final simmer creates an almost umami richness that elevates the whole pot, and you simply fish it out before serving.
03 -
  • Taste your vegetable broth before using it, because a good broth is half the battle and a mediocre one will make itself known throughout the entire pot.
  • Don't be afraid to add extra herbs if something feels flat—Italian herbs are forgiving and actually want to be generous in soup form.
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