Tuscan Minestrone

Submitted by lazyme

"Here's a simple and tasty minestrone from the American Heart Association Cookbook. You can substitute macaroni or other pasta for the orzo if you choose. We like to add some spicy Mrs. Dash at the end for a little more kick."

 

• Ready In: 2hrs 15mins
• Ingredients: 19
• Serves: 4

ingredients

• 396.89 g can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 14.79 ml olive oil, extra virgin
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 bay leaf
• 2.46 ml red pepper flakes, crushed
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2365.0 ml water
• 1 leek, sliced
• 3 carrots, sliced
• 3 stalk celery, sliced
• 2 potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 236.59 ml green beans, sliced
• 354.88 ml tomato sauce
• 14.79 ml mixed Italian herbs
• 2 zucchini, chopped
• 354.88 ml cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
• 411.06 g stewed tomatoes
• 118.29 ml orzo pasta
• 473.18 ml spinach, chopped

directions

1. Place oil in 6 quart saucepan.
2. Add beans, garlic, bay leaf, red pepper flakes, onion.
3. Saute 5 minutes.
4. Add water.
5. Bring to boil.
6. Simmer 1 hour.
7. Add leek, carrots, celery, potatoes, green beans, tomato sauce, herb blend, and pepper.
8. Cook 30 minutes.
9. Add zucchini, beans, tomatoes.
10. Cook 15 minutes.
11. Add orzo and spinach.
12. Cook 15 minutes.

Reviews

[breezermom]

I made this exactly as posted, except I did add some sea salt. I also used elephant garlic, so I think I increased it by about a normal clove. Wonderful soup! I can't believe no one has tried this yet. I had everything I needed except the beans, so it was easy to make for me. I did make a mistake and add both beans in step one, but this didn't seem to affect the recipe. My cannellini beans were still intact and whole. I threw in a bit of kale too just because I had some that needed to be used. Very warming soup, and welcome on our first really cool night here. Delish....think it makes more than 4 servings though, unless you are a sumo wrestler and eat lots! Which I do! LOL

 

[foxgluv]

I made this delicious soup last night and our whole family loved it. Although the temperature in Chicago was 98F yesterday, this soup made the perfect dinner! I followed the recipe as closely as I could substituting some homemade beef broth I had frozen instead of water. I didn't have the cannellini beans, so used only one can of kidney beans. The only suggestions from my peanut gallery were to use less zucchini (I used 2 and one was quite large) and add more potato. Also, I used mini penne pasta so cooked it longer than I would have cooked the orzo and they were too soft. I had just purchased some fancy schmancy (expensive) parmesan cheese from the local farmer's market so that grated on top made it even more delicious. Thank you, lazyme, for a GREAT recipe.