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Winter Minestrone Soup


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 4 reviews

  • Author: Jenna
  • Total Time: 60min
  • Yield: 8 1x

Description

Minestrone soup is a hearty and delicious Italian soup that is perfect for a cold winter day. This classic soup is packed with a variety of vegetables, beans, and pasta, making it a satisfying and nutritious meal. 


Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ounces pancetta, 1/2-inch-diced
  • 1 1/2 cups chopped yellow onions
  • 2 cups  carrots 
  • 2 cups  celery 
  • 2 1/2 cups (1/2-inch-diced) peeled butternut squash
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic (4 cloves)
  • 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme leaves
  • 1 (26-ounce) can crushed tomatoes 
  • 6 to 8 cups chicken stock, preferably homemade
  • 1 bay leaf Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
  • 4 oz cooked small pasta, such as tubetti
  • 8 to 10 ounces fresh baby spinach leaves
  • 1/2 cup good dry white wine
  • Toppings: parmesan cheese (optional) 
Garlic Bruschetta:
 
  • 1 French baguette
  • Good olive oil
  • 1 clove garlic, cut in half lengthwise

Instructions

  1. Add the pancetta to a Dutch Oven and cook over medium-low heat for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned. Add the onions, carrots, celery, squash, garlic, and thyme and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 8 to 10 minutes, until the vegetables begin to soften.
  2. Add the tomatoes, 6 cups of the chicken stock, the bay leaf, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper to the pot. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes, until the vegetables are tender. Discard the bay leaf.
  3. Add the beans and cooked pasta and heat through. The soup should be quite thick but if it's too thick, I add more chicken stock. Just before serving, reheat the soup, add the spinach, and toss with 2 big spoons (like tossing a salad). Cook just until the leaves are wilted. Stir in the white wine. Depending on the saltiness of the chicken stock, add another teaspoon or two of salt to taste. Serve large shallow bowls of soup with a bruschetta on top. Sprinkled with Parmesan cheese, drizzle with olive oil and serve hot. Garlic Bruschetta: 1 French baguette Good olive oil 1 clove garlic, cut in half lengthwise Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Slice the baguette at a 45 degree angle in 1/2-inch-thick slices. 
  4. Brush both sides of the bread with olive oil and bake for 6 minutes, until lightly toasted. Take the slices out of the oven and rub the surface of each one with the cut clove of garlic.
  5. Makes 8 servings, Serving size 1 cup 

Notes

myWW points: Blue 3; Green 3;  Purple 3

serving size: 1 cup (does not include baguette) 

  • Prep Time: 10min
  • Cook Time: 50min
  • Category: Easy
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cup
  • Calories: 352
  • Sugar: 11.2g
  • Fat: 8.7g
  • Saturated Fat: 2.7g
  • Carbohydrates: 54.4g
  • Fiber: 8.7g
  • Protein: 16.5g