Vegetarian Minestrone Soup

In Soups, Vegan on December 6, 2015 with No Comments

Minestrone is a thick soup of Italian origin made with vegetables, pasta or rice, and beans. A hearty and healthy soup, excellent on chilly days and very easy to prepare. Although there is no set recipe for minestrone, it is said that the base for genuine minestrone soup is always made with bean broth.This is actually a vegan soup, and can be made fat and gluten free.

Info

Time 1 hour 20 minutes

Difficulty Easy

Servings 6

Ingredients

With the beans and pasta cooked in advance this meal can be made in 30 minutes.

1 cup Cannellini beans, dried or other white beans. Or sub 2 cans

3 Tablespoons olive oilSubstitute water or veggie broth for fat free cooking

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2 cup or 3 oz. chopped onion

1 medium sized, 3 oz. carrot, diced

1 stalk, 1-2 oz. celery, diced

4 ounces, about one handful fresh green beans cut into 1/2 inch pieces

1-14 ounce can diced stewed tomatoes

1 cup vegetable broth

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon dried sage Don't leave out this ingredient.

1/2 cup “Shell” or other small pasta of your choice Or try gluten free pasta

Vegetarian Minestrone Soup, Preparation

Pre-soak and cook beans according to package directions and set aside. Pre-soaked white beans may take 40 minutes in a pressure cooker. You can also sub two cans of prepared beans to save time.
Cook pasta according to package directions and set aside.
Heat oil (or use veggie broth) in a heavy bottom pot and add onions and garlic. Cook for 3-4 minutes, or until onion is softened.
Add carrot, celery, green beans, dried herbs, and vegetable broth and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes until green beans are cooked.
Add the beans with all there liquid and the tomatoes and bring to simmer, then add the cooked pasta and simmer for another minute. Remove from heat and serve.

Serving Suggestions

Serve with homemade bread warm from the oven and grated Parmesan cheese. The pasta, especially gluten free pasta, is sometimes best kept on the side until the moment that you are ready to serve. Add the pasta to the bowl first, then top with the soup.

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