Description
Comforting minestrone soup brings Italian countryside warmth to your kitchen, blending robust vegetables and hearty beans in a rich, aromatic broth. Generous portions promise satisfying nourishment that connects you with traditional Mediterranean culinary heritage.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables:
- 3 onions
- 5 carrots
- 2 stalks celery
- 300 grams potatoes
- 3 courgettes
- 100 grams fine green beans
- 225 grams savoy cabbage
Proteins and Beans:
- 400 grams cannellini beans
- 112 liters stock (beef, chicken, or vegetable)
- Rind of Parmesan cheese (optional)
Fats, Cheese, and Pasta:
- 6 tablespoons (90 milliliters) olive oil
- 40 grams butter
- 150 grams ditalini or chifferi rigati pasta
- 40 grams freshly grated Parmesan cheese (plus more to serve)
Instructions
- In a large pot, melt butter and oil together, then sauté onions until translucent and softened over medium heat, approximately 4-5 minutes.
- Successively add carrots, celery, potatoes, courgettes, and French beans, stirring and cooking each vegetable for 2-3 minutes to develop their individual flavors.
- Incorporate shredded cabbage and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, for 6-7 minutes until vegetables are slightly tender.
- Pour in vegetable stock, add cheese rind, and season with salt and pepper to enhance the soup’s depth of flavor.
- Cover the pot and simmer gently on low heat for 90-120 minutes, allowing vegetables to soften and broth to reduce, periodically checking liquid levels and adding water if needed.
- Introduce cannellini beans and cook for 5 minutes, then add pasta and increase heat slightly to ensure proper pasta cooking.
- Once pasta reaches al dente consistency and vegetables are tender, remove cheese rind and sprinkle fresh Parmesan cheese on top.
- Give the soup a final stir, ladle into serving bowls, and garnish with additional Parmesan cheese before serving hot.
Notes
- Vary Vegetable Texture by cutting each vegetable into uniform, bite-sized pieces to ensure consistent cooking and appealing presentation.
- Enhance Flavor Depth by sautéing vegetables slowly, allowing natural sugars to caramelize and develop rich, complex taste profiles.
- Customize Dietary Needs by substituting butter with olive oil for vegan versions or using gluten-free pasta for those with wheat sensitivities.
- Control Soup Consistency by adjusting liquid amounts during simmering, ensuring pasta absorbs stock without becoming too thick or thin.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 252 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 320 mg
- Fat: 13 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 12 mg