Savory Garden Minestrone Delight
This delightful Minestrone offers a vibrant medley of fresh vegetables and hearty pasta, creating the perfect balance of flavors and nutrition. Inspired by a cherished recipe from Better Homes & Garden, this fast-cooking soup is not only quick to prepare but also shines when allowed to rest for a couple of hours, allowing the flavors to meld beautifully. Each serving is packed with wholesome ingredients and makes for fantastic leftovers, ensuring your family will savor every bowl. Ideal for a cozy meal any day of the week, this low-cholesterol dish is as good for the soul as it is for your health.
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
13
Ingredients
Ingredients
Garlic cloves
2 (minced)
Medium onion
1 (chopped)
Extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon (none)
Large yellow sweet pepper
1 (coarsely chopped)
Medium zucchini
1 (coarsely chopped)
Beef broth
2 (14 ounce) cans (none)
Cannellini beans
1 (15 ounce) can (rinsed and drained)
Green beans
8 ounces (trimmed and cut into 1-1/2-inch pieces)
Mostaccioli pasta
1 cup (none)
Fresh basil
1/4 cup (coarsely chopped)
Medium tomatoes
2 (coarsely chopped)
Baby spinach leaves
2 cups (fresh)
Parmesan cheese
to taste (freshly grated)
Instructions
1
In a large 4-quart Dutch oven, heat the extra virgin olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and chopped onion, and sauté until they become tender and fragrant, about 3-4 minutes.
2
Stir in the coarsely chopped yellow pepper and zucchini, cooking for another 3-4 minutes until they begin to soften.
3
Pour in the beef broth and 2 cups of water, bringing the mixture to a boil.
4
While the broth is heating, rinse and drain the cannellini beans. Once the broth is boiling, add the rinsed beans and mostaccioli pasta. Return to a boil and then reduce the heat.
5
Cover the pot and let the soup gently simmer for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the pasta is tender, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
6
Remove the pot from heat and stir in the coarsely chopped tomatoes, baby spinach leaves, and fresh basil. Adjust seasoning with salt and ground black pepper to taste.
7
Serve hot, garnishing each bowl with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. For an even more flavorful experience, allow the soup to rest for a couple of hours before reheating and serving.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Savory Garden Minestrone Delight?
It is a vibrant and nutritious minestrone soup featuring fresh vegetables, mostaccioli pasta, and cannellini beans, inspired by a Better Homes & Garden recipe.
What size pot should I use for this recipe?
A large 4-quart Dutch oven is recommended for cooking this soup.
What type of oil is used for sautéing?
The recipe calls for one tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil.
How many garlic cloves are needed?
You will need two minced garlic cloves.
How long should I sauté the garlic and onion?
Sauté the minced garlic and chopped onion for about 3 to 4 minutes until they are tender and fragrant.
What kind of pepper is included in the soup?
The recipe uses one large yellow sweet pepper, coarsely chopped.
How do I prepare the zucchini?
Use one medium zucchini and coarsely chop it before adding it to the pot.
How much beef broth is required?
The recipe requires two 14-ounce cans of beef broth.
How much water should be added to the broth?
Add 2 cups of water to the beef broth mixture.
What type of beans are used in this minestrone?
One 15-ounce can of cannellini beans is used.
Should the cannellini beans be rinsed?
Yes, the cannellini beans should be rinsed and drained before being added to the soup.
Does this recipe include green beans?
Yes, the ingredients list includes 8 ounces of green beans, trimmed and cut into 1.5-inch pieces.
What kind of pasta is used in the recipe?
One cup of mostaccioli pasta is added to the boiling broth.
How long does the soup need to simmer?
The soup should simmer for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the pasta is tender.
Should the pot be covered during simmering?
Yes, cover the pot while the soup gently simmers.
How often should I stir the soup while it simmers?
Stir the soup occasionally to prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
When do I add the tomatoes?
The coarsely chopped tomatoes are stirred in after the pot is removed from the heat.
Is fresh or dried basil used?
The recipe specifies 1/4 cup of fresh basil, coarsely chopped.
What type of spinach is added?
Two cups of fresh baby spinach leaves are added at the end of cooking.
How should the soup be seasoned?
Adjust the seasoning with salt and ground black pepper to your personal taste.
What is the recommended garnish?
Garnish each bowl with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
Can this soup be made ahead of time?
Yes, the flavors meld beautifully if the soup is allowed to rest for a couple of hours before serving.
Is Savory Garden Minestrone Delight healthy?
Yes, it is described as a wholesome, low-cholesterol dish packed with vegetables.
Are the leftovers good?
Yes, the soup makes for fantastic leftovers as the ingredients continue to develop flavor over time.
How many ingredients are in this recipe?
There are 13 main ingredients listed for this minestrone.
What is the best way to serve this soup?
Serve it hot in bowls, topped with Parmesan cheese.
Can I substitute the beef broth?
While the recipe calls for beef broth, you can use vegetable broth if you prefer a vegetarian version.
How many tomatoes are needed?
The recipe calls for two medium tomatoes.
What is the preparation for the onion?
One medium onion should be chopped.
Is this a fast-cooking recipe?
Yes, it is designed as a quick-to-prepare meal suitable for any day of the week.