Tomato Basil Minestrone Soup (Printable)

A rich blend of tomatoes, basil, and fresh vegetables simmered with pasta and herbs in a savory broth.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
02 - 1 medium onion, diced
03 - 2 carrots, diced
04 - 2 celery stalks, diced
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1 medium zucchini, diced
07 - 1 cup green beans, cut into 1-inch pieces
08 - 1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes
09 - 1 (14-ounce) can crushed tomatoes

→ Broth & Flavorings

10 - 4 cups vegetable broth
11 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
12 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
13 - 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
14 - ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
15 - ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
16 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste

→ Pasta & Beans

17 - 1 cup small pasta (ditalini or elbow macaroni)
18 - 1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

→ Finish

19 - ½ cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
20 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
21 - Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving (optional)

# How-To:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion, carrots, and celery; cook for 5 minutes until softened.
02 - Stir in minced garlic, diced zucchini, and green beans. Cook for an additional 3 minutes.
03 - Add diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, vegetable broth, oregano, thyme, salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, and tomato paste. Stir well and bring to a boil.
04 - Reduce heat to a simmer and cook uncovered for 15 minutes to meld flavors.
05 - Add small pasta and drained cannellini beans. Simmer for 10 to 12 minutes until pasta reaches tenderness.
06 - Incorporate fresh basil and parsley. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
07 - Serve hot, optionally topped with grated Parmesan cheese.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together with humble ingredients but tastes like something Nonna would approve of
  • The soup actually improves overnight, making it the gift that keeps on giving
  • You can toss in whatever vegetables are languishing in your crisper drawer
02 -
  • The pasta will continue absorbing liquid as it sits, so the soup thickens considerably overnight
  • Tomato paste needs a few minutes of simmering to mellow out and integrate properly
  • Salting at the end rather than the beginning prevents over-seasoning as the soup reduces
03 -
  • Cut all your vegetables to roughly the same size for even cooking
  • Taste the broth before adding pasta since seasoning becomes harder to adjust later
  • Save some pasta water if the soup gets too thick, the starchy liquid helps bind everything
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