My Southern Mamas Italian Vegetable Soup Food

SIMPLE ITALIAN MINESTRONE SOUP

Steps:

• In a large Dutch oven, heat the extra virgin olive oil over medium heat until shimmering but not smoking. Add onions, carrots and celery. Raise heat to medium-high, if you need to, and cook, tossing regularly, until the veggies soften a bit (about 5 minutes or so). Add the garlic and cook another minute, tossing regularly.
• Add the zucchini or yellow squash and green beans. Season with paprika, rosemary, and a generous pinch of kosher salt and pepper. Toss to combine.
• Now add the crushed tomatoes, broth, fresh thyme, bay leaf and Parmesan rind (if using.) Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a gentle simmer and partially cover the pot. Let simmer for about 20 minutes or so.
• Uncover the pot and add the kidney beans. Cook for another 5 to 10 minutes.
• Finally, Stir in the parsley and fresh basil. And, if serving immediately, stir in the cooked pasta and simmer ever so briefly till the pasta is warmed through; do not overcook. (See Cook's Tip #2)
• Remove the cheese rind and bay leaf. Taste and adjust seasoning to your liking. Serve the minestrone hot in dinner bowls with a sprinkle of grated Parmesan (optional.)

ITALIAN VEGETABLE SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a heavy large pot over medium heat. Add the leeks and saute until translucent, about 8 minutes. Add the garlic and saute until tender, about 2 minutes. Stir in the zucchini and artichokes. Season the vegetables with salt and pepper. Saute until the zucchini are tender, about 10 minutes. Add the vegetable broth. Stir in the thyme and cook for 2 minutes. Cover the pot and bring the soup to a simmer. Decrease the heat to medium-low and simmer gently until the flavors develop, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes. Increase the heat to medium-high. Add the noodles and cook until al dente, stirring constantly, about 5 minutes.
• Ladle the soup into bowls. Sprinkle with Parmesan and serve.

ITALIAN VEGETABLE SOUP

Steps:

• In a large pot add olive oil, garlic, vegetables, beans, spices, tomato purée, water and bouillon cube, stir to combine, bring to a boil and then turn heat down to simmer for approximately 30-45 minutes or until beans are tender (halfway through taste for salt). I would advise making your pasta separately in a pot of boiling salted water and then adding it to the soup (if you are keeping half the soup for later consumption then make half the pasta and only add it to the soup you will be eating or the pasta will get mushy). Enjoy!
• **Dried soaked bean are fine too, they may take longer to cook.

CHUNKY ITALIAN SOUP

Steps:

• Cook rotini noodles, at dente, and set aside to be added to soup at end of cook time.
• Cook beef and onion in a large Dutch over over medium heat, stirring until meat is no long pink; drain.
• Return meat to pan.
• Stir in tomatoes and the next 8 ingredients and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes.
• Stir in kidney beans and next 3 ingredients.
• Simmer, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes.
• Stir in pasta.
• Simmer for 5 more minutes.
• Serve up into individual bowls.
• Sprinkle each serving with Parmesan Cheese.

HOMEMADE ITALIAN VEGETABLE SOUP

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine the first nine ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender. , Add the pasta and tomatoes; heat through. Discard bay leaf.