Hearty Meatless Minestrone

Submitted by Dissie

"This is a quick, healthy and tasty soup. It makes a big batch! If you want to add meat to enhance flavor, I have added cooked browned italian sausage or cooked italian linked sausage and cut them into chunks. Hope you enjoy!"

 

• Ready In: 1hr 10mins
• Ingredients: 19
• Yields: 3 quarts
• Serves: 8

ingredients

• 1 large onion, chopped
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 celery ribs, chopped
• 2 medium carrots, chopped
• 1 cup cabbage, chopped
• 1 medium bell pepper, chopped
• 1 zucchini, chopped
• 6 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 1⁄2 cups water
• 2 (14 1/2 ounce) cans diced tomatoes, undrained
• 15 ounces garbanzo beans, drained
• 15 ounces tomato puree
• 8 ounces tomato sauce
• 3 tablespoons dried parsley flakes
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon pepper
• 1⁄4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1⁄2 cup small shell pasta

directions

1. In a dutch oven or similar large soup pan, saute onion in oil for 2 minutes. Add the celery, carrots, cabbage, bell pepper, zucchini and garlic, saute 3 minutes longer. Stir in the water, all the tomatoes, bean and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and cover. Simmer for 15 minutes. Stir in pasta and cook 15 minutes longer. Garnish with cheese.

Reviews

[PaulaG]

This will not disappoint the vegetable lover. I used a 15 oz can of tomato sauce for the puree and used additional water for the other 8 oz of tomato sauce. I do not have the shell pasta and substituted fusili. The soup was rich and thick. It was served with shaved parmesan and fresh bread on the side. Made for *PAC Spring 2010*