Minestrone Soup (nostalgia in a bowl)
 
 
Author:
Recipe type: Soup
Ingredients
  • 4 TBSP butter
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 3 carrots, diced
  • 3 celery stalks, diced
  • 2-3 handfuls of green beans, chopped in 1 inch pieces
  • 2 large beefsteak tomatoes, blanched and chopped
  • 2 poblano peppers, diced (optional)
  • 3 quarts beef broth (I used my recipe for "Beef Broth, Easy Style")
  • 3 TBSP tomato paste
  • One 12 oz. box of fusilli pasta
  • 5 cloves fresh garlic
  • 3 cups fresh spinach, chopped
  • 1 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1-1/2 cups sweet corn (optional)
  • 15 oz. kidney beans (optional)
  • 1-2 lbs meatballs (I used my recipe for "Spicy Italian Meatballs")
  • Sea salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
  1. SAUTÉ: In a large pot, melt your butter and sauté the onions, carrots, celery, green beans, and peppers on medium heat.
  2. BLANCH: In a medium pan, boil some water. You're going to use this water to blanch the tomatoes. Using a paring knife, poke several holes in the skins of the tomatoes. And when the water comes to a boil, remove from the heat, plop those tomatoes in there, and cover with a lid for two minutes. After two minutes, drain the water, and let them sit to cool for a few minutes before chopping and adding to the soup.
  3. PASTA TIME: By now, your other veggies should be be mostly soft, and it's time to add the beef broth, tomato paste, chopped blanched tomatoes, and a bit of salt to taste. Bring the broth up to a boil, and add the pasta.
  4. TURN DOWN THE HEAT: When the pasta is two minutes from being done, turn it down to a low simmer and add the freshly minced garlic, chopped spinach, frozen sweet corn, chopped parsley, and black pepper to taste. And kidney beans if you're adding beans.
  5. LET THE FLAVORS COMBINE: Cover and cook on low, and when the meatballs are done, pull them out of the oven and add them to the soup. Let all of that continue to cook on low for 5 more minutes. Taste for salt one more time, and then serve.
Recipe by Revived Kitchen at https://www.revivedkitchen.com/2017/02/minestrone-soup/