Minestrone Soup


Rustic, comforting and wholesome, minestrone is an Italian vegetable stew traditionally composed of any vegetable in season. Since there is no set recipe for this soup it lends well to personal adaptation. Still you can count on seeing a couple of ingredients to show up in most versions of minestrones: cabbage, carrots, onions, zucchini, tomatoes and beans. In the recipe I chose, a medley of vegetables are flavored by bits of pancetta and thickened by pureed creamy white beans. Although, you can skip the pork entirely and use vegetable stock to make it a vegetarian recipe. If you have parmesan rinds (I save them in the freezer) throw them in with the vegetables to create depth and infuse flavor, just don't forget to remove them when the soup is done.




Minestrone Soup Recipe
From Simply Recipes
This recipe makes a lot of soup. You may consider halving it or freezing some of it to enjoy at a later date.  The beans will absorb a great deal of liquid while cooking. Add more broth or water to replace lost liquid as needed otherwise the beans will stick to the pan.
Ingredients
  • 1 - 1 1/2 cups dried Cannellini or Great Northern Beans
  • 2 ounces salt pork or pancetta
  • 2 1/2 - 3 quarts beef or chicken broth
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1 celery stalk, chopped
  • 1 carrot, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 1 cup loosely packed parsley, chopped
  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 head savoy or curly cabbage, sliced
  • 1 potato, diced
  • 2 zucchini, diced
  • 2 carrots, diced
  • 2 cups chopped Italian styled peeled plum tomatoes
  • 1 Parmesan rind
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • Parmesan cheese, grated for garnish
Method
  1. Soak beans overnight in cold water. Drain beans, rinse, and place them in a large saucepan or stockpot. Add salt pork or pancetta and 6 cups of broth. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cook gently for about 1 hour.
  2. Heat oil in a separate large stockpot. Add chopped vegetables (onion, celery, carrot, garlic, parsley) and sauté gently 5 to 8 minutes or until lightly browned. Add remaining vegetables and tomatoes. Add remaining 5 cups broth, and Parmesan rind. Simmer for 40 to 50 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
  3. Remove salt pork or pancetta from beans. Dice finely. Transfer half of the beans to a food processor or a blender and blend into a paste. Add mashed beans to the vegetables. Add remaining whole beans, broth, and diced pork to vegetables.
  4. Simmer 5 minutes longer. Season soup with salt and pepper. Remove Parmesan rind. Serve with a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese.
Serves 12

28 comments:

Claudia said...

O degrees F. Snowing. You just warmed my heart and hearth.

T.W. Barritt at Culinary Types said...

A perfect soup for this cold weather! The fresh chopped vegetables look so vibrant.

From the Kitchen said...

We are waiting for the first flakes of what could be a medium snow storm here--and, I believe, heading toward you. Soup is on my mind and ingredients are on the grocery list. Your minestrone has a few ingredients that mine doesn't. They can only make it better I think.

Keep warm when you're not playing in the snow with your sweet boy!!

Best,
Bonnie

singerinkitchen said...

This is perfect! Yummy for a cold wintery day!

Magic of Spice said...

This looks wonderful! Although it is warm here, for January anyway...we are expecting a storm over the weekend. This is one of my favorite classics, and I need to get soup making :)

Fun and Fearless in Beantown said...

I'd love a bowl of that minestrone right about now!

pam said...

Perfect for this cold, damp weather.

La Table De Nana said...

I just just made one:) On my little blog..as one of my favorite things coming up:)

I just love it..to bits!

Nisrine M. said...

Looks warming and delicious, Christine. Love the use of cabbage.

SavoringTime in the Kitchen said...

Minestrone soup is one of my favorites too and I started putting the Parmesan rind in a couple of years ago after La Table de Nana posted a recipe on her blog :) It is such a healthy and delicious soup!

Belinda @zomppa said...

An absolute classic! For these cold, cold days!

Lisa said...

Minestrone is exactly what we are eating this week. Yours looks delicious! Yum.

Lori said...

You have me in the mood for soup. I've not made Minestrone myself before, but now I have the perfect reason to give it a try.

Delicious Dishings said...

This soup sounds perfect for today!

nancy at good food matters said...

a beautiful bowl, Christine--I could plunge right in, on this cold and dreary day.

sally said...

I've been saving some parmesan rinds, and this soup looks like the perfect way to use them.

Kim said...

This soup just screams healthy, nutritious, and comforting. The perfect mix of ingredients. Feel good food for sure.

Amy said...

Perfect for these cool winter days. I love soup season.

Katie@Cozydelicious said...

I've been meaning to make minestrone and this is a perfect, hearty, simple recipe for a cold winter night. I'm making it tomorrow!

tasteofbeirut said...

I love minestrone soup and always get disappointed at restaurants with the one they offer (from a can?); making it at home is the best way and your recipe sounds perfect!

Deana Sidney said...

I haven't made this in ages but do love it. Sort of perfect winter food that you can move from dinner main dish to lunch to quick snack. The best part, as you say is that you can use whatever you have... including those pesky rinds. Lovely recipe... keep warm!

Jamie said...

I love minestrone and this one is so perfect and Italian! It is really the best meal for winter. I think I'll make one next week. I really think this is the best way to eat vegetables (and beans!).

bunkycooks said...

Soups are perfect for this time of year and I love all the veggies in Minestrone! What a great way to eat your vegetables. :-)

Penny said...

Beautifully photographed and executed. As always you delight with great posts. So glad Alex travels well. He is so adorable.

Velva said...

I enjoy minestrone in the cooler months. It's a great way to use/eat your veggies. Love it!

Velva

Candy said...

I have seen so many soup recipes today! This one looks particularly good! Lovely photos.

Reeni said...

The third minestrone I've seen today - it's a definite sign! This is packed to the hilt with nourishing and delicious comfort. I'd love a big steaming bowl!

Catherine said...

Beautiful soup!! and perfect pictures. Blessings, Catherine xo