DinnerCountMinestrone Soup
This soup is full of vegetables. Onion, carrots, celery, zucchini, and green beans simmer in a tomato broth with kidney beans and white beans. The macaroni cooks right in the pot, and a couple of handfuls of spinach wilt in at the end. Parmesan goes over each bowl. It takes one pot, it has no meat, and it makes enough for six.
Ingredients (serves 6)
- Yellow onion1 each
- Carrots2 each
- Celery2 stalks
- Zucchini½ lb
- Green beans½ lb
- Garlic clove3 cloves
- Olive oil2 tbsp
- Tomato paste2 tbsp
- Italian seasoning2 tsp
- Diced tomatoes (canned)1 can (14.5 oz)
- Vegetable broth6 cups
- Kidney beans (canned)1 can (15 oz)
- White beans (canned)1 can (15 oz)
- Salt1 tsp
- Black pepper½ tsp
- Macaroni1 cup
- Fresh spinach2 cups
- Parmesan cheese½ cup
How Much to Make for 2, 4, 6, or 8
For 2 people, you’ll need ⅓ cup macaroni, about ⅓ of a 15 oz can of kidney beans, and about ⅓ of a 15 oz can of white beans.
For 4 people, you’ll need ⅔ cup macaroni, about ⅔ of a 15 oz can of kidney beans, and about ⅔ of a 15 oz can of white beans.
For 6 people, you’ll need 1 cup macaroni, 1 can (15 oz) of kidney beans, and 1 can (15 oz) of white beans.
For 8 people, you’ll need 1⅓ cups macaroni, 1⅓ cans (15 oz) of kidney beans, and 1⅓ cans (15 oz) of white beans.
| Ingredient | For 2 | For 4 | For 6 | For 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow onion | ⅓ each | ⅔ each | 1 each | 1⅓ each |
| Carrots | ⅔ each | 1⅓ each | 2 each | 2⅔ each |
| Celery | 1 stalk | 2 stalks | 2 stalks | 3 stalks |
| Zucchini | ¼ lb | ⅓ lb | ½ lb | ⅔ lb |
| Green beans | ¼ lb | ⅓ lb | ½ lb | ⅔ lb |
| Garlic clove | 1 clove | 2 cloves | 3 cloves | 4 cloves |
| Olive oil | 2 tsp | 1 tbsp + 1 tsp | 2 tbsp | 2½ tbsp |
| Tomato paste | 2 tsp | 1 tbsp + 1 tsp | 2 tbsp | 2½ tbsp |
| Italian seasoning | ¾ tsp | 1¼ tsp | 2 tsp | 2¾ tsp |
| Diced tomatoes (canned) | about ⅓ of a 14.5 oz can | about ⅔ of a 14.5 oz can | 1 can (14.5 oz) | 1⅓ cans (14.5 oz) |
| Vegetable broth | 2 cups | 4 cups | 6 cups | 8 cups |
| Kidney beans (canned) | about ⅓ of a 15 oz can | about ⅔ of a 15 oz can | 1 can (15 oz) | 1⅓ cans (15 oz) |
| White beans (canned) | about ⅓ of a 15 oz can | about ⅔ of a 15 oz can | 1 can (15 oz) | 1⅓ cans (15 oz) |
| Salt | ¼ tsp | ¾ tsp | 1 tsp | 1¼ tsp |
| Black pepper | ¼ tsp | ¼ tsp | ½ tsp | ¾ tsp |
| Macaroni | ⅓ cup | ⅔ cup | 1 cup | 1⅓ cups |
| Fresh spinach | ⅔ cup | 1⅓ cups | 2 cups | 2⅔ cups |
| Parmesan cheese | 2½ tbsp | ⅓ cup | ½ cup | ⅔ cup |
The amounts are rounded to what you can measure at home. Pounds are rounded to the nearest quarter or third, cups to the marks on a measuring cup, and spoons to real measuring spoons. An egg stays whole. Because of the rounding, some amounts are the same at two sizes.
- For 2: This recipe is written for 6 adult-size portions. You are cooking about 2 adult portions, which is roughly 0.3 times the recipe. This is less than the recipe assumes. Use the medium saucepan instead of the 6-quart pot, so the liquid stays deep enough to simmer without scorching. Small amounts cook down faster, so check early.
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Steps
- Chop the onion. Dice the carrots, the celery, and the zucchini. Cut the green beans into 1-inch pieces, and finely chop the garlic.
- Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat until it is hot but not smoking. Add the onion, the carrots, and the celery, and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring. The vegetables are ready when the onion is soft. Stir in the garlic, the tomato paste, and the Italian seasoning for about 1 minute.
- Add the diced tomatoes, the vegetable broth, the drained kidney beans and white beans, the green beans, the zucchini, the salt, and the black pepper. Bring the soup to a boil. Turn the heat down so it bubbles gently and cook for 15 minutes. The soup is ready when the carrots are tender.
- Stir in the dry macaroni and cook for 8 to 10 minutes more, stirring once or twice. The pasta is done when it is tender. Stir in the fresh spinach for about 1 minute. The spinach is done when it has wilted.
- Serve the soup with the parmesan cheese over each bowl. The soup thickens as it sits, so add a splash of water when you reheat leftovers.
Good to Know
- Contains Milk, Wheat. This comes from the ingredient names, so it is not a complete list. The ingredient names do not show what is inside a jar, a mix, or a sauce, and formulas change. For an allergy or intolerance, read the package every time, and never decide from this line.
