Vegetarian Minestrone Soup

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This better than Olive Garden Vegetarian Minestrone soup recipe is a delicious version of the classic Italian vegetable soup. The soup is rich in fiber and is a perfect hunger-satisfying meal.

Once famously known as ‘poor man’s soup’, this vegan minestrone soup recipe is highly nutritious as it calls for all the seasonal veggies that you can put your hands on.

Originated back in the 2nd Century BC from Italy during the reign of Rome, this classic vegetarian minestrone soup is rich in fiber and is a perfect hunger-satisfying meal. 

Because there’s no fixed recipe this classic soup, and it varies across different parts of Italy, it is served as Minestrone Alla Genovese in Liguria, with its main ingredients include pesto and Minestra in Malta with its main ingredient as tomato paste, potatoes, and spaghetti.

Vegan Minestrone Soup Ingredients Variations 

The vegetables used in this soup is what make this vegan Minestrone soup. 

Earlier, tomatoes were not a part of Italian cuisine but after the conquest of Rome over Italy these tomatoes became a common ingredient for all recipes.

For the soup, you can use canned tomato paste or puree while following the recipe. Alternatively, we can make the tomato puree at home by smashing the peeled tomatoes. 

All the vegetables are cooked and simmered in the tomato broth. 

However, using tomatoes is not necessary. This vegetarian minestrone soup can be made with whatever ingredients you have on hand. 

Celery

This is one of the important ingredients in the making of minestrone.

Using celery sticks as an ingredient in the soup gives an extra touch to it because of its crunchy and crisp nature. 

Also, its distinctive aroma gives a classic feel to the soup. Celery is also preferred in salads.

While using celery, make sure to wash and chop the celery sticks beforehand.

Seasonal Vegetables

Because this soup meal has no fixed recipe. You can alter the recipe by adding all the vegetables you like to your soup, especially all the seasonal veggies. 

Some of the main vegetables to be added to the soup are Carrot, Onion, potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, garlic cloves, spinach. 

You can even add frozen vegetables if you wish to do so. Make sure to drain all the water from it before use.

Beans

Beans are the most important of the veggies added in the better than Olive Garden vegetarian minestrone soup.

While making the soup, if you are using canned beans then you just need to wash it and drain all the water before using it.

But if you are going to use dry beans, for example, kidney beans, then you need to soak them overnight in the water before using them the next day.

Soak the kidney beans in the water overnight. The next day, drain all the water and cook it in the salty water until it becomes soft and easy to eat.

You can cook beans in a pressure cooker for about 10 – 12 minutes or use a pan with a lid.

You can also use navy beans or white beans as per your taste.

Pasta

Next to the beans, pasta is one such major ingredient of minestrone.

Without pasta or macaroni, the soup remains incomplete.

Make a note that the cooking time of pasta or macaroni varies according to their shape. 

It is always better to half cook pasta separately and later add it into the cooking soup because it may sometimes even overcook the vegetable.

Zucchini Or Summer Squash

Adding summer squash/Zucchini/Courgette ingredients gives it a naturally creamy texture to the soup and tastes delicious.

Besides this, it is considered a healthy ingredient because it contains 95% water and helps to boost our immunity, keeps our heart stronger, and benefits in weight loss.

Dressing For The Soup

The unique taste of oregano over the bowl of minestrone will leave your mouth craving for more.

You can use packed oregano or freshly plucked herbs along with cilantro leaves to give a mouth-watering savor to your soup.

To add a star to the savouriness of the soup, garnish it with parmesan cheese and a few basil leaves and relish. This will give your soup a heavenly incredible taste.

Ingredients

Here is a complete list of ingredients required for this better than Olive Garden Vegetarian Minestrone soup recipe:

• 4 Tbsp. Olive Oil
• 3 Large Carrots; Diced
• 2 Celery Sticks; Diced
• 1 Zucchini; Diced 
• 1 Leek; Sliced 
• 1 Small Yellow Onion; Chopped
• 3 Garlic Cloves; Chopped
• 1 (15.5 Oz.) Can Cannellini Alubias Beans; Rinsed and drained 
• 1 (15.5 Oz.) Can Dark Red Beans; Rinsed and drained
• 3-5 Basil Leaves
• 1 Lb. Radiator Pasta Nugget
• Salt and Pepper To Taste
• 32 Oz. Vegetable Stock 
• 4 Cups Water; More if needed
• 1 Red Bell Pepper; Diced 
• Parmesan Cheese, if desired for serving 

Making Minestrone Soup Vegan

Try the super delicious vegan minestrone soup by avoiding parmesan cheese to make your soup completely vegan and lower in calories. 

Or go for vegan parmesan as an alternative. You can also add vegan sausage for an extra mouth-watering experience.

Non – Vegetarian Minestrone Soup

To enjoy the non-vegetarian minestrone soup, add meat or chicken stock.

To use it in the soup, chop the chicken into pieces and make balls out of it.

Gluten-Free Minestrone Soup

Switching to a gluten-free pasta brand will make minestrone soup gluten-free. Now, celiac people can also enjoy the flavor of this classic veggie soup.

How To Serve Minestrone Soup 

When it comes to serving your better than Olive Garden minestrone soup, revel your veggie hot bowl of minestrone with crunchy Garlic bread sticks or focaccia rolls.  

You can also enjoy roasted chicken, beef skewers, or Haitian Tasso with minestrone soup.

Storing Minestrone Soup 

You can easily store Minestrone soup for a long time. Anytime for your cravings just heat it and consume.

You can store the soup in the refrigerator for up to 3 – 4 days and in the freezer for up to one month.

After the soup cools down, stock the soup in a suitable container preferably and then wrap it in zip-top bags.

Make sure not to add basil leaves and cheese if you want to store it. While re-consuming the defrosted soup, reheat it in a pan over medium flame and continue stirring until it boils.

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