Hearty Homemade Minestrone Soup

When you think about soup, you probably think of it as a healthy option, but not all soup is created equal. Unfortunately, most canned soup is loaded with sodium, ingredients you can’t pronounce, and additives you should never eat. The reason you can eat an entire can and still feel hungry is because most soup isn’t hearty or healthy. However, soup can be! I created this Hearty Homemade Minestrone Soup as proof. It’s filling, healthy, vegan, packed full of protein, fiber, and ingredients you can read.

After creating this Hearty Homemade Minestrone Soup recipe years ago, my son asked me to write the recipe down so I could make it again. See, I am famous for being inspired by the ingredients that surround me, never following a recipe, and always trying new things in my kitchen. Well, I’m so thankful I wrote this recipe down. I have made this soup for years and now I am excited to share it with you.

Minestrone soup typically contains kidney beans, which none of us like, so I created my version using pinto beans instead. It’s vegan, packed full of fresh garden vegetables, and includes protein and fiber from the Perfectly Spiced Pinto Beans. Making this soup is also a great way to use up extra garden zucchini and tomatoes.

For a gluten free version, simply swap the elbow pasta for gluten-free pasta. I personally love Jovial Gluten-Free Elbows. They are made with Organic Brown Rice and hold together well in this soup. Gluten-Free or not, these ingredients combine to make this soup a hearty and delicious meal. Give it a try. It takes very little effort to put this soup on the table for your family.

Pair this hearty soup with homemade bread and you have the perfect meal for a cool fall or cold winter day. It’s so hearty you won’t even miss the meat. To save time, you can use a can of organic diced tomatoes and organic chili beans. Choose low or no sodium options, though. Don’t forget you can also freeze this soup for a convenient meal later on.

Ingredients

• Olive Oil
• Chopped Carrots
• Chopped Celery
• Chopped Onion
• Quartered and Sliced Zucchini
• Diced Tomatoes
• Crushed Garlic
• Chopped Mushrooms
• Dried Oregano, Parsley, Italian Seasoning
• Garlic & Onion Powder
• Bay Leaves
• Better than Bouillon Vegetable Base
• Organic Elbow Pasta (whole wheat or gluten free)
• Perfectly Spiced Pinto Beans w/ cooking liquid
• Filtered or Spring Water

Kitchen Equipment

• Cutting Board & Sharp Knife
• Small Prep Bowls
• Dutch Oven
• Wooden Soup & Ladle

Please Note: I always prefer using fresh organic produce in homemade recipes. However, to save time you can use canned no salt diced tomatoes for this soup and it will turn out just fine. Also, canned chili beans will work instead of making your own “Perfectly Spiced Pinto Beans.” Convenience always wins so do what is easiest for you! Or try both ways and compare the difference for yourself. Now, let’s talk about the ingredients before we get started.

Tomatoes are full of the antioxidant lycopene. They contain vitamin C & K, potassium, and folate. They are heart healthy and may help to reduce the risk of heart disease. Tomatoes help reduce inflammation in the body, boost immune system function, help to lower cholesterol (LDL), and keep blood from clotting. When cooked, they release even more lycopene.

If you have read any of my previous posts or recipes, you know I am a huge fan of beans. Not so much canned beans but cooked dry beans. They are a whole food that’s packed with essential vitamins and nutrients. Beans are inexpensive, versatile, and flavorful. For my Minestrone Soup, I have chosen Pinto Beans for their neutral flavor and great texture. Pinto beans are full of fiber and protein. They help keep you full longer and make this Hearty Homemade Minestrone Soup a great healthy meal.

Onions and garlic contain health benefits too. Both onions and garlic are considered prebiotics. Prebiotics are plant fibers that help feed the beneficial probiotics in our gut. Onions are rich in antioxidants, help fight inflammation in the body, and regulate blood sugar levels. Garlic helps boost immunity, regulate blood sugar levels, and is great for your skin as well. The more ways you get creative and add these healthy ingredients to your diet, the better! This soup is a great way to start.

Of course, I can’t overlook all the benefits of the herbs and spices in this Hearty Homemade Minestrone Soup. Oregano contains antioxidants, helps fight bacteria in the body, and is anti-inflammatory. Parsley helps with digestion, supports the kidneys, and helps to stabilize blood sugar. Bay Leaves also aid with digestion and are good sources of vitamins A, B6, and C.

The bottom line is this soup is healthy, hearty, and beneficial to your body. Not to mention it contains way less sodium than any store bought or canned soup. So let’s get started.

Making Minestrone Soup

If you have time, I highly recommend making the Perfectly Spiced Pinto Beans first. This recipe requires 1 cup of Dry Organic Pinto Beans, Water, and a few spices. Cooking the dry beans will take only 40 minutes of pressure in the Instant Pot and no soaking is required. If you follow the recipe, you will end up with enough beans for this Minestrone Soup recipe and refried or whole pinto beans for a burrito night as well. You can always make the beans the day before and keep them in your refrigerator so they are ready to create this amazing soup. If time doesn’t allow you to cook dry beans, by all means use a half of a can of low sodium Organic Chili Beans.

If you make the beans the same day as the soup, you can prep all the vegetables while the beans cook. Chop the carrots, celery, onion, zucchini, tomatoes, and mushrooms. Place all the chopped veggies in small prep bowls or on a large plate. Measure out the elbow pasta, herbs, and spices so they are ready when needed. Once you have all the ingredients prepped and ready, this Minestrone Soup comes together pretty fast.

Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to a dutch oven and allow to heat up for a few minutes. Once the oil is warm, add 1/4 cup chopped carrots, 1/2 cup celery, 1/2 cup onions, and 1/2 cup quartered and sliced zucchini. Sauté for 5 minutes, over medium heat, stirring occasionally.

Next, add 1 3/4 cups of chopped tomatoes and 2 cloves of crushed garlic. If you don’t have fresh organic tomatoes, you can use a 14.5 ounce can of low sodium or no sodium organic diced tomatoes. Sauté all the vegetables, while stirring occasionally, for just a few minutes.

Add 4 cups of filtered or spring water, 1 tablespoon Better then Bouillon Vegetable Base, 1/2 tsp Oregano, 1/2 tsp Parsley, 1/2 tsp Italian Seasoning, 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder, 1/2 tsp Onion Powder, 1/2 tsp Chili Powder, and 2 Bay Leaves. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes.

Next, add a 1/2 cup chopped mushrooms and 1 cup cooked pinto beans with seasoned bean liquid. I recommend using my recipe for Perfectly Spiced Pinto Beans. However, if time doesn’t permit, you can use a 1/2 of a can of Organic Chili Beans instead.

Increase the heat and bring the soup back to a boil. This should take about 5 minutes.

Once the soup is boiling, you will notice the mushrooms will disappear into the liquid. Then, add a 1/2 cup of Organic Elbow Pasta and keep boiling for 15 minutes. If the soup becomes too thick or has very little liquid remaining, add up to 1 cup of additional water but only if necessary. After the soup has boiled for 15 minutes, check the pasta to see if it is done. If so, remove from heat and allow to cool slightly before serving.

As it cools, the soup will thicken slightly. Serve this Hearty Homemade Minestrone Soup with organic croutons, freshly cracked black pepper, and shaved or grated parmesan cheese. It pairs great with homemade bread and a salad. You can even freeze the leftovers for another meal later. If you are going to freeze this soup for later, allow it to cool completely in the refrigerator before freezing.

From my family to yours, this Hearty Homemade Minestrone Soup never disappoints. This plant-based soup is meat-free, however, even meat eaters will enjoy this soup. It’s packed full of organic vegetables, contains fiber and protein from the beans, and is perfectly spiced with organic dried herbs.

Below you will find the my recipe for my families favorite Minestrone Soup. As always, I encourage you to use this recipe as inspiration to create your own variation. Please give this recipe a try first though. It’s a good one!

Remember to be creative with your food. It doesn’t have to be complicated and there is inspiration all around you. Try making some homemade soup today.

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