Main Dish Minestrone

Warm, hearty, and brimming with vibrant, wholesome flavors, Main Dish Minestrone is the ultimate comfort food that's as nourishing as it is delicious. This classic Italian-inspired soup is a medley of colorful vegetables like zucchini, green beans, and spinach, combined with tender beans, aromatic herbs, and hearty pasta for a satisfying one-pot meal. With just 20 minutes of prep, this recipe comes together effortlessly, simmering to perfection in under an hour. Perfect for vegetarians, it's a wonderfully customizable dish that can be made vegan or enriched with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. Serve it with crusty bread or a crisp side salad for a complete, nutritious dinner that will please the entire family.

Nutriscore Rating: 82/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:40 mins

Total Time:60 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, diced
• 2 medium carrots, diced
• 2 stalks celery stalks, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 medium zucchini, diced
• 1 cup green beans, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
• 28 ounces canned diced tomatoes
• 6 cups vegetable broth
• 15 ounces canned cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
• 15 ounces canned kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 0.5 teaspoons dried thyme
• 1 cup small pasta shells or elbow macaroni
• 3 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped
• 0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoons black pepper
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped (for garnish)

Directions

Step 1

Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.

Step 2

Add the diced onion, carrots, and celery, and cook for 5–7 minutes until the vegetables are softened.

Step 3

Stir in the minced garlic, zucchini, and green beans, and cook for another 2–3 minutes.

Step 4

Add the canned diced tomatoes with their juices, vegetable broth, cannellini beans, kidney beans, oregano, basil, thyme, salt, and black pepper. Stir well.

Step 5

Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes, uncovered.

Step 6

Stir in the pasta and continue to simmer for an additional 10 minutes, or until the pasta is tender.

Step 7

Add the chopped spinach and cook for 2–3 minutes, just until wilted.

Step 8

Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning with more salt and pepper if needed.

Step 9

Ladle the minestrone into bowls and optionally top with grated Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley.

Step 10

Serve warm with crusty bread or a side salad for a complete meal.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	4374.2 grams (4374.2g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	3553

Total Fat 120.80g	155%
Saturated Fat 37.80g	189%
Polyunsaturated Fat 15.10g
Cholesterol 111mg	37%
Sodium 9833mg	428%
Total Carbohydrate 475.40g	173%
Dietary Fiber 99.10g	354%
Total Sugars 76.20g
Protein 166.30g	333%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 2556mg	197%
Iron 40mg	223%
Potassium 9954mg	212%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 29.8%

Protein: 18.2%

Carbs: 52.0%