Main Dish Minestrone Food

MAIN-DISH MINESTRONE

Steps:

• In 4-quart nonstick saucepan or Dutch oven, heat water to boiling over medium-high heat. Add onions; cook 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add potatoes, carrot, celery, bell pepper and garlic; cook 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add remaining ingredients. Heat to boiling.
• Reduce heat; simmer about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until potatoes and pasta are tender.

MINESTRONE SOUP (OLIVE GARDEN COPYCAT)

Steps:

• Preheat the pot with olive oil, add zucchini, carrots, celery and onions. Sautee for about 10 minutes, until vegetables soften.
• To the pot, add canned diced tomatoes. Season with Italian seasoning and dry basil.
• Add vegetable broth, noodles, kidney and Great Northen beans. Simmer for about 10 minutes. Depending on the thickness of the soup, you can add 2 more cups of water to the mix.
• Press garlic into the mixture and let it simmer for about 10 minutes.
• Serve while the minestrone soup is still warm.

MAIN-DISH MINESTRONE

Steps:

• In large heavy saucepan, heat oil and butter.
• Add sausage; brown lightly.
• Add onion, garlic, celery, carrot and green pepper; cook until softened but not browned.
• Stir in parsley, basil, thyme, bay leaf and a little salt& pepper.
• Stir in tomatoes and stock.
• Bring to a boil; reduce heat, cover and simmer for about 10 minutes.
• Add cabbage, beans and macaroni.
• Cover and simmer about 30 minutes.
• If too thick, dilute with water to desired consistency.
• Taste and adjust seasoning.
• A nice variation on this soup is to add ground beef instead of sausage, and beef stock instead of chicken stock.
• Add 3/4 cup dried lentils and 1/4 cup barley instead of macaroni and kidney beans.

MAIN DISH MINESTRONE (SOUP)

Steps:

• 1. In a large pot, over medium high heat, in hot butter, cook carrots,celery,onions, garlic and cabbage. You will want to carmelize these vegetables, so this will take some time. (at least 20 minutes) The carmelized vegetables are what gives this soup such great flavor, so dont hurry this step! You want the vegetables to brown up a bit, to release the natural sugars. (it is worth the time and rewarded with a very rich flavor!)
• 2. When the above are carmelized, add the rest of the ingredients except for the Parmesan cheese. Cook over high heat, heat to boiling. Then turn down to low and simmer 30 minutes or until vegetables and rice are tender. Add more water if necessary as the barley and rice can suck up some of the moisture. Serve with Parmesan cheese. Makes about 18 cups. Very low in calories too!

SHORTCUT MINESTRONE SOUP

Steps:

• Heat frozen mixed vegetables in a large sauce pan; stir continuously. (See note below).
• Add marinara sauce and water and bring to a boil.
• Stir in green beans, white beans and pasta.
• Cook until pasta is done, about 5-10 minutes.
• Sprinkle generously with pepper.
• Add parmesan cheese. (See note below).
• Ladle soup into bowls and add additional parmesan cheese in individual servings, as desired.