Simple Minestrone Recipe

Simple Minestrone RecipePhoto by: Taste of Home Simple Minestrone Recipe Rating 5

Make this classic recipe extra quickly for a cool winter night. It is chock-full of vegetables and has a wonderful smokey flavor.—Regina Cook, Fort Worth, Texas

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Simple Minestrone Recipe
  • Prep: 15 min. Cook: 35 min.
  • Yield: 2 Servings
20 25 45

Ingredients

  • 1 bacon strip, diced
  • 1/3 cup smoked turkey kielbasa, quartered
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1/4 cup chopped carrot
  • 2 tablespoons chopped celery
  • 1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 cup canned diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 can (5-1/2 ounces) reduced-sodium tomato juice
  • 1/4 cup chopped zucchini
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/8 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/3 cup canned pinto beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1/4 cup cooked elbow macaroni
  • 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

  • In a large saucepan, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Using a slotted spoon, remove to paper towel. In the drippings, saute sausage, onion and garlic for 3 minutes. Stir in the carrot and celery. Cook and stir 2 minutes longer or until sausage is lightly browned; drain.
  • Stir in the broth, tomatoes, tomato juice, zucchini and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Stir in the beans and macaroni; heat through. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and bacon. Yield: 2 servings.

Nutritional Facts 1-1/2 cups equals 267 calories, 9 g fat (3 g saturated fat), 45 mg cholesterol, 1,256 mg sodium, 28 g carbohydrate, 6 g fiber, 18 g protein.

Originally published as Simple Minestrone in The Taste of Home Cookbook , p81

Tip

Freeze Whole Tomatoes

Put extra garden tomatoes in a plastic freezer bag and store in your freezer. To use in soup, stew or sauce, just hold the frozen tomatoes under warm water, and the skins will slip right off. Drop the whole skinless tomatoes into the pot—they’ll break up during cooking, which also saves time chopping. —Elaine T., Palmetto, Florida

When our garden is producing a bountiful harvest of tomatoes, I make tomato "muffins". I ladle peeled and cored tomatoes into muffin pans and pop them in the freezer. When they're solid, I take the tomatoes out of the pans and slip them into plastic bags, so they're ready to add to soups, chili and other recipes. —Barbara Kynock, Centreville, Nova Scotia

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Reviews for Simple Minestrone (2)

Simple Minestrone Recipe

Simple Minestrone

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Reviewed on Jan. 09, 2012 by lbielss

I altered some of the measurements since it only makes two servings and we're a family of four (tripled the broth, tomatoes, and tomato juice, increased the sausage and zucchini amounts, etc.). We now have enough for two more nights. I was very pleased at how tasty it was. Delicious and very easy. I will definitely make this again and have already shared the recipe with two relatives.


Reviewed on Dec. 22, 2011 by jenjerry

I have made this several times, it's my favorite soup but I have modified it a little. I add other veggies and make a big batch to freeze. Very good and easy.

 
 
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