Shell Minestrone

This is a good, basic vegetable soup. You can enhance it with additional vegetables of your choosing. Add fresh-baked bread or muffins and a salad for a satisfying meal.

• Ready In: 1 hr
• Yields: 10 cups

Ingredients

• 1  small onion, chopped
• 4  garlic cloves, minced
• 1  carrot, cut into chunks
• 1  celery, sliced including top
• 1  potato, scrubbed and cut into chunks
• 2  tablespoons  chopped parsley
• 2  cups tomato juice
• 2  cups water or 2  cups vegetable broth
• 1  teaspoon  mixed Italian herbs
• 1⁄4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1  small zucchini, diced
• 1⁄4 cup pasta shells
• 1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, drained
• 1  cup  finely chopped kale or 1  cup  collard greens or 1  cup spinach
• 1  tablespoon  chopped fresh basil or 1  teaspoon dried basil

Directions

1. Combine onion, garlic, carrot, celery, potato, and parsley in a large pot. Add tomato juice, water or broth, Italian herbs, and black pepper. Bring to a simmer, then cover and cook 20 minutes.
2. Add zucchini, pasta, kidney beans, chopped greens, and basil. Cover and simmer until pasta is tender, about 20 minutes. Add extra tomato juice or water for a thinner soup.