Vegetable Minestrone Variations (Printable)

Hearty Italian soup with seasonal vegetables, pasta, and beans. Adaptable year-round.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
02 - 1 medium onion, diced
03 - 2 carrots, diced
04 - 2 celery stalks, diced
05 - 1 small zucchini, diced or 1 small butternut squash, diced
06 - 1 cup green beans, chopped or 1 cup chopped kale or spinach
07 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 1 can (14 ounces) diced tomatoes
09 - 1 medium potato, peeled and diced

→ Broth & Beans

10 - 6.3 cups vegetable broth
11 - 1 can (14 ounces) cannellini or borlotti beans, drained and rinsed
12 - 3.5 ounces small pasta such as ditalini, elbow, or shells
13 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Herbs & Seasonings

14 - 1 bay leaf
15 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
16 - 1 teaspoon dried basil
17 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, plus more for serving
18 - Grated Parmesan cheese for serving

# How-To Steps:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add diced onion, carrots, and celery; sauté for 5 minutes until softened.
02 - Stir in minced garlic, diced zucchini or squash, and green beans or kale. Cook for 3 minutes.
03 - Add diced tomatoes, diced potato, and bay leaf. Cook for 2 minutes, then pour in vegetable broth.
04 - Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes to allow vegetables to soften and flavors to meld.
05 - Add beans and pasta. Simmer uncovered for 10 to 12 minutes until pasta and vegetables are tender.
06 - Season with oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Remove the bay leaf. Stir in chopped parsley.
07 - Ladle into bowls and top with grated Parmesan cheese if desired. Serve with crusty bread and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Use up any vegetables lingering in your crisper drawer before they go bad
  • The soup tastes even better the next day as flavors deepen and meld together
02 -
  • Pasta continues absorbing liquid even after cooking, so if making ahead, undercook slightly or add more broth before reheating
  • A Parmesan rind tossed into the simmering soup adds incredible depth, just remember to fish it out before serving
03 -
  • Cut all vegetables to similar sizes so they cook evenly and look beautiful in the bowl
  • Wait to add salt until after the soup simmers, as broth and cheese reduce down and concentrate salinity
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