Hearty Meatless Minestrone Food

CLASSIC MINESTRONE SOUP

Steps:

• Warm 3 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or stockpot over medium heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the chopped onion, carrot, celery, tomato paste and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring often, until the vegetables have softened and the onions are turning translucent, about 7 to 10 minutes.
• Add the seasonal vegetables, garlic, oregano and thyme. Cook until fragrant while stirring frequently, about 2 minutes.
• Pour in the diced tomatoes and their juices, broth and water. Add the salt, bay leaves and red pepper flakes. Season generously with freshly ground black pepper.
• Raise heat to medium-high and bring the mixture to a boil, then partially cover the pot with the lid, leaving about a 1" gap for steam to escape. Reduce heat as necessary to maintain a gentle simmer.
• Cook for 15 minutes, then remove the lid and add the pasta, beans and greens. Continue simmering, uncovered, for 20 minutes or until the the pasta is cooked al dente and the greens are tender.
• Remove the pot from the heat, then remove the bay leaves. Stir in the lemon juice and remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Taste and season with more salt (I usually add about 1/4 teaspoon more) and pepper until the flavors really sing. Garnish bowls of soup with grated Parmesan, if you'd like.

CHUNKY VEGETARIAN VEGETABLE SOUP (FAST AND EASY)

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Cook and stir onion and celery in hot oil until onion is softened and translucent, about 5 minutes.
• Stir garlic into the onion mixture; cook and stir until fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes more.
• Pour vegetable broth and tomato sauce into pot. Simmer for about 10 minutes.
• Stir carrots and potatoes through the broth. Simmer until carrots are tender, 10 to 15 minutes more.
• Drop corn, edamame, okra, and kale into the soup. Continue to simmer until okra is tender, 5 to 10 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper.

MINESTRONE SOUP

Steps:

• Put a large shallow casserole pan on a medium-high heat.
• Finely slice the bacon, if using, and sprinkle into the pan with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, stirring occasionally while you prep your veg.
• Peel and finely chop the garlic and onion, adding the garlic to the pan with the bay leaves as soon as the bacon turns golden, followed by the onions.
• Trim and chop the carrots and celery into rough 1cm dice, adding to the pan as you go. Remove and finely chop any tough stalks from your greens and add to the pan. Cook for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring regularly, or until softened and caramelised.
• Crumble in the stock cube, pour in the tinned tomatoes, breaking them up with your spoon, then add 1 tin's worth of water.
• Pour in the beans, juice and all, then add a pinch of sea salt and black pepper.
• Shred your greens and sprinkle into the pan, top up with 600ml of boiling kettle water, then add the pasta. Cover and leave to simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the pasta is just cooked and the soup has thickened to your liking.
• Season the soup to perfection, then serve it with a grating of Parmesan cheese and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. A sprinkling of fresh baby basil leaves will always be delicious, if you've got them, and my kids enjoy it with a dollop of pesto on top, too.

HEARTY WINTER-VEGETABLE SOUP

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large Dutch oven or stockpot over medium-high heat. Cook leeks, celery, carrots, garlic, red-pepper flakes, and 1 teaspoon salt, stirring occasionally, until leeks are translucent, about 5 minutes. Add stock and water, and bring to a boil.
• Add squash and potatoes. Return to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer, partially covered, until vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes. Stir in escarole and chickpeas, and return to a boil. Stir in lemon juice and herbs. Season with salt and pepper.

HEARTY MEATLESS MINESTRONE

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, saute onion in oil for 2 minutes. Add the celery, carrots, cabbage, green pepper, zucchini and garlic; saute 3 minutes longer. Stir in the water, tomatoes, beans, tomato puree, tomato sauce and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15 minutes., Stir in pasta; cook 12-15 minutes longer or until tender. Garnish each serving with basil and cheese if desired.

HEARTY MINESTRONE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a Dutch oven or large soup pot over medium-high heat. Add leeks and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 3 minutes. Add broth, water, potato, thyme, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, for 5 minutes.
• Add orzo and cook, partially covered, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, for 5 minutes. Add beans and zucchini and continue to cook, partially covered, until the vegetables and pasta are tender, about 8 minutes more.
• Stir in spinach and cook, stirring, until wilted, about 2 minutes. Season the soup with vinegar. Ladle into bowls and garnish with Parmesan.

MEATLESS ITALIAN MINESTRONE

Steps:

• Heat oil in Dutch oven or stockpot.
• Add celery, onion and garlic.
• Cook and stir until crisp-tender.
• Stir in tomatoes, cabbage and carrots.
• Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer until vegetables are tender.
• Stir in tomato juice, beans, parsley, oregano, basil, pepper and salt.
• Simmer until beans are heated.
• Stir in cooked macaroni just before serving.
• Serve sprinkled with Parmesan.

HEARTY MINESTRONE

Steps:

• Bring broth, beans, and tomatoes to boil in large saucepan.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering.
• Add onions and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
• Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• Stir in broth mixture and pasta and simmer until pasta is tender, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in vegetables and basil and cook until heated through, about 5 minutes.
• Season with salt and pepper.

VEGETARIAN BEAN AND BARLEY VEGETABLE SOUP

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In a large soup or stock pot, sauté the onions and garlic in the oil or vegan margarine for a minute or two.
• Then add the celery, carrots, and any other vegetables you are using for about 3 to 5 minutes.
• Next, add in the vegetable broth or water and all the other remaining ingredients and bring the mixture to a simmer. Once your soup is simmering, reduce the heat to medium-low and cover your pot.
• Allow your soup to simmer on the stove for at least thirty minutes and up to one hour, stirring occasionally, until the barley is soft and somewhat fluffy.
• Be sure to remove both of the bay leaves before serving your soup.
• Taste, and then add in more spices or a bit of optional salt and pepper to taste.