Garbanzo Minestrone Recipes

SWISS CHARD AND CHICKPEA MINESTRONE

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil over medium-low heat in a large, heavy soup pot or Dutch oven. Add the onion, carrots and celery. Cook, stirring, until beginning to soften, about three minutes. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt and the leek. Continue to cook, stirring often, until tender, about three minutes. Add the garlic, stir for about a minute, and then stir in the water, tomato paste and the bouquet garni. Bring to a simmer. Add salt to taste, reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer 30 minutes. Stir in the chickpeas. Taste and adjust salt. Remove the bouquet garni.
• Add the Swiss chard and the pasta to the soup, bring back to a simmer, and simmer another 10 minutes or until the pasta is cooked al dente. Grind in some pepper, taste and adjust seasonings. It should be savory and rich-tasting. Serve in wide soup bowls, with a sprinkling of Parmesan over the top.

CLASSIC MINESTRONE SOUP

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Cook onion, carrot, celery, garlic and rosemary until vegetables begin to soften, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in tomato sauce, beans and 2 1/2 cups water. Add broth, zucchini, pasta and pepper; bring to a simmer. Cook, uncovered, 10 minutes or until pasta is tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in parsley. Serve topped with Parmesan cheese and additional parsley, if desired.

GARDEN MINESTRONE SOUP

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, cook the carrots, zucchini, onion and garlic in oil for 7 minutes or until onion is tender. Add the broth, V8 juice, garbanzo beans, tomatoes, green beans, macaroni and basil. Bring to a boil. , Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes. Stir in parsley. Cook 5 minutes longer or until macaroni is tender.

MICHELE'S MINESTRONE

Steps:

• First, peel and thinly slice the carrots. Peel the potatoes and cut them into a 1/2-inch dice. In a large saucepan place the broth, carrots, and potatoes. Bring to a boil over medium heat, and then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until the potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes. Then add the beans, spinach, and pasta to the soup. Bring the soup back to a boil, cover and simmer over medium heat until the pasta is cooked, about 10 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and remove from heat. Add the cheese, stirring until it is softened. Ladle into bowls and serve immediately.

MINESTRONE WITH SHRIMP, GARBANZO BEANS, AND AUTUMN SQUASH

Steps:

• Soak dried beans at least 8 hours.
• Or bring to a rolling boil; remove from heat.
• Cover and let stand 1 hour.
• Simmer presoaked or quick-soaked beans for 30 minutes. Set aside.
• In 4-quart Dutch oven cook carrots, onions, and garlic in hot olive oil over medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Remove from heat.
• Rinse and drain beans in colander.
• Add dried, precooked beans (NOT canned beans), chicken broth, rosemary, crushed red pepper, and bay leaf to Dutch oven.
• Bring to boil; reduce heat.
• Cover and simmer for 30 minutes.
• Add squash and tomato.
• If using canned beans, rinse, drain, and add with squash and tomato at this point.
• Cover and cook 20 to 30 minutes more or until beans and squash are tender.
• Remove and discard bay leaf.
• Stir in shrimp and basil.
• Bring just to boil.
• Reduce heat and cook, uncovered, for 1 to 2 minutes or until shrimp turn opaque.

CONTEST-WINNING EASY MINESTRONE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, saute the carrots, celery and onion in oil and butter until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer., Stir in the broth, tomato sauce, beans, chickpeas, tomatoes, cabbage, basil, parsley, oregano and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Add macaroni; cook, uncovered, 6-8 minutes or until macaroni and vegetables are tender., Ladle soup into bowls. Sprinkle with cheese. Freeze option: Before adding cheese, freeze cooled soup in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a saucepan, stirring occasionally and adding a little broth or water if necessary.

MINESTRONE SOUP II

Steps:

• In a large stock pot, cook bacon and drain off fat. Add onion, garlic, and beef. When onions are translucent, add celery, carrot, pureed tomatoes, whole tomatoes, broth, condensed soup, water, wine, oregano, basil, salt and pepper. Cook for 15 minutes.
• Stir in zucchini, spinach, pasta, garbanzo beans and parsley. Cook for 15 minutes and serve with fresh Parmesan cheese.