Minestrone Soup
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: Low 8 hours
Yield: 6 servings
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 tablespoon dried Italian seasoning
2 cans (14.5 ounces) Italian flavored tomatoes
1 cup finely diced carrots
1 cup finely diced celery
1 cup finely diced zucchini
1 can cut green beans
1 cup peeled and finely diced potatoes
1 tablespoon salt
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
8 cups water
1 can (19 ounces) red kidney beans, drained and rinsed under cold water
1 1/2 cups uncooked ditalini (small, tube-shaped pasta)
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan or Romano Cheese
1Spray a 6-quart slow cooker with vegetable oil cooking spray.
2Heat the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until soft, 7 to 8 minutes. Add the Italian seasoning, tomatoes, carrots, celery, and zucchini and cook for 5 minutes.
3 Place the cooked vegetable mixture in the slow cooker. Add the string beans, cabbage, potatoes, salt, pepper, and water. Stir to combine.
4 Cover and cook on low for 8 hours. Add the kidney beans and pasta 20 minutes before serving. Cook until the pasta is tender.
5 Stir in the cheese and serve immediately.
Per serving: Calories 297 (From Fat 27); Fat 10g (Saturated 2g); Cholesterol 4mg; Sodium 1770mg; Carbohydrate 42g (Dietary Fiber 9g); Protein 12g.
*I add cooked pork chunk and kielbasa sausage to this and it came out great. Next time I make it I plan on adding some canned minced clams to it instead.
Joy
/ February 18, 2009This sounds awesome JAM. I was thinking along the lines of what meat would be good and then saw you added pork. That’s what I would have chosen to add also. I think I’ll make this tomorrow. Thanks. I love sharing recipes.
Just a Mom
/ February 18, 2009Joy ~ I hope you like it! I freeze some of the leftovers, that way I have some for my lunches later on.
Doraz
/ February 18, 2009My favorite soups are chicken tortilla and vegetable minestrone soup! I like to add garbanzo beans in my recipe. I also add some mild Italian sausage for those who want some meat in it! Your recipe sounds delicious! Do not forget the garlic bread!
mrsvierkant
/ February 19, 2009Sounds delicious. I’d leave out the kidney beans (since I don’t like those, LOL) and replace them with a bean I do like. I may have to try this. I always like a new soup recipe.
Just a Mom
/ February 19, 2009That’s why I love recipes like this you can tweak it to your own taste! I think the original recipe I found for this called for 1/2 a cup of shredded red cabbage. Yuk!
starlaschat
/ February 21, 2009That looks like a wonderful soup. I booked marked it and will give it a try perfect weather for it cold and crisp outside. Thanks for posting the recipe
Just a Mom
/ February 23, 2009starlaschat ~ Thanks for stopping in and leaving a comment! I hope you enjoy the soup. 🙂