Grandmas Minestrone Recipes

GRANDMA'S MINESTRONE

Steps:

• Saute the onions and garlic in olive oil for five minutes over medium heat. Use a large soup pot.
• Add celery, carrots, oregano, basil, and salt and cook for ten minutes.
• Add bell pepper, zucchini, eggplant, water and tomato sauce. Cover the pot and simmer for 15 minutes.
• Add beans and simmer for five minutes.
• Add the pasta and cook until tender (check the pasta package for the time required).
• Add the tomatoes and heat through.
• You can sprinkle each bowl with chopped parsley, parmesan cheese, and/or fresh ground black pepper. Enjoy!

WINTER MINESTRONE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a heavy large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, celery, pancetta, and garlic. Saute until the onion is translucent, about 10 minutes. Add the Swiss chard and potato; saute for 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and rosemary sprig. Simmer until the chard is wilted and the tomatoes break down, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, blend 3/4 cup of the beans with 1/4 cup of the broth in a processor until almost smooth. Add the pureed bean mixture, remaining broth, and Parmesan cheese rind to the vegetable mixture. Simmer until the potato pieces are tender, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes. Stir in the whole beans and parsley. Simmer until the beans are heated through and the soup is thick, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Discard Parmesan rind and rosemary sprig (the leaves will have fallen off of the stem.)
• Ladle the soup into bowls and serve.

WINTER MINESTRONE

Steps:

• In a large, heavy stockpot or Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, celery, pancetta, and garlic. Cook, stirring frequently, until the onion is translucent, about 10 minutes. Add the Swiss chard and potato. Season with salt and pepper and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes and rosemary sprigs. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the chard is wilted and the tomatoes are very soft, about 10 minutes.
• In a food processor or blender, combine 3/4 of the beans with 1/2 cup of broth. Blend until almost smooth. Add the pureed bean mixture, remaining broth, and Parmesan rind to the vegetable mixture. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the potato pieces are tender, about 15 minutes. Stir in the remaining beans and the parsley. Simmer until the beans are heated through and the soup is thick, about 2 minutes. Discard the rosemary stems (the leaves will have fallen off) and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Ladle the soup into bowls and serve.

GREAT-AUNT LILLIAN'S MINESTRONE SOUP

Steps:

• 1. Heat two tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat in a large soup pot.
• 2. Saute onion, celery, garlic, green beans, and zucchini in the oil for 5 minutes or until onions begin to turn translucent.
• 3. Add vegetable broth to pot, plus drained tomatoes, beans, carrot, hot water, and spices.
• 4. Bring soup to a boil, then reduce heat and allow to simmer for 20 minutes.
• 5. Add spinach leaves and pasta and cook for an additional 20 minutes or until desired consistency.
• 6. I like to serve with homemade croutons and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese sprinkled on top.

MINESTRONE

Steps:

• In a stockpot, saute the onions, celery and parsley in oil until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the broth, tomatoes, tomato sauce, cabbage, carrots, basil, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1 hour. , In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir into soup along with the zucchini, beans and pasta. Cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until vegetables and pasta are tender. Top each serving with cheese.

CLASSIC MINESTRONE

Steps:

• In a large pot, heat oil over medium. Add onion, carrots, celery, red-pepper flakes, rosemary, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion begins to turn golden, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Add tomatoes; cook until some of the liquid evaporates, 1 minute. Add potato, cabbage, cannellini beans, and 7 cups water; bring to a boil. Stir in green beans.
• Reduce to a simmer, and cook until all the vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper; stir in garlic, if using, and basil. Serve sprinkled with Parmesan and, if using, torn basil. Drizzle with more oil, if desired.

FAT GRANNY'S MINESTRONE SOUP

Steps:

• Combine Italian seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, celery seed, parsley, thyme, basil, oregano, salt, black pepper, and bay leaf in a small bowl.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, 8 minutes. Drain.
• Heat olive oil and butter together in a large saucepan over medium-high heat; cook and stir carrot, celery, and onion until heated through, 2 to 3 minutes. Add garlic, green bell pepper, red bell pepper, zucchini, and Italian seasoning mixture; stir to combine.
• Stir tomatoes and their juice, tomato sauce, three bean salad, green beans, and chicken stock into seasoned vegetable mixture. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until flavors are blended, about 30 minutes. Stir in elbow macaroni before serving.

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.