Green Minestrone Recipes

GREEN MINESTRONE

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat; cook and stir onion and garlic until onion is translucent, about 10 minutes. Add green beans, peas, and zucchini; toss to coat vegetables with oil.
• Slowly stream vegetable broth into vegetable mixture; bring to a simmer over medium heat. Stir in rosemary and great Northern beans and bring back to a simmer, about 5 minutes. Add ditalini pasta and simmer soup until pasta is tender but firm to the bite and soup has thickened, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in parsley.
• Ladle soup into serving bowls and top each serving with 1 heaping tablespoon Parmesan cheese; season with salt and black pepper. Garnish soup with a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil.

SPRING GREEN MINESTRONE SOUP

Steps:

• For the soup: In a small food processor, puree 1/4 cup of the butter beans until smooth. Set aside.
• Place a heavy saucepan or stockpot over medium-low heat and add the olive oil. Add the leeks and garlic and sweat until translucent and softened, about 6 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add the stock, pasta, pearl onions, tomatoes and remaining butter beans. Bring to a simmer and simmer until the pasta is cooked, about 5 minutes. Check the seasoning. Add the haricot vert and cook for another 3 minutes. Stir in the bean puree, spinach, peas and parsley.
• For serving: Transfer to serving bowls and garnish with a small spoonful of pesto, some radishes, cilantro and scallions, a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of Parmesan.

GREEN MINESTRONE

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large heavy pot over medium heat. Cook leek, fennel, yellow onion, and celery, stirring occasionally, until softened but not taking on any color, about 5 minutes. Add broth; bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until vegetables are just tender, 10-15 minutes.
• Add carrots and peas and simmer until carrots are just tender, about 5 minutes; season with salt and pepper.
• Meanwhile, cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until al dente. Drain and add pasta to soup.
• While pasta is cooking, process parsley and remaining 4 tablespoons oil in a food processor to a coarse paste, transfer to a small bowl, and mix in shallot. Season pesto with salt and pepper. Serve soup topped with pesto, pearl onions, and Parmesan.

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.

GREEN MINESTRONE WITH TORTELLINI

Steps:

• Heat the olive or rapeseed oil in a large pan. Add the onion, leek and celery stick. Cook for 8-10 mins until softened, then stir in the garlic and bay leaves. Pour in the chicken or vegetable stock, then cover and simmer for 10 mins. Add the spring veg or cabbage, peas, lemon zest and tortellini (spinach tortellini works well). Cover and cook for another 3 mins, season well and ladle into bowls.

GREEN BEAN MINESTRONE

Steps:

• Fry the onion, garlic, carrot and celery in the olive oil in a large saucepan until tender but not browned. Scoop out and set aside. Fry the pancetta, if using, you won't need to add any more oil but keep the heat low until it starts to give off fat. Fry until browned but not too crisp. Tip into a sieve and drain off any excess fat. Put the carrot mixture back into the pan with the pancetta and add the bay leaf, plenty of seasoning and the stock. Bring to a simmer, add the pasta and cook for 5 mins.
• Top and tail the green and runner beans, slice both into lengths that will easily fit on a spoon and add to the pot with the broad beans. Cook for 3 mins, then add the cabbage. Bring back to a simmer and cook for 2 mins. Spoon the pesto onto the top of the soup just before serving and serve with the bread.

MINESTRONE WITH WINTER GREENS

Steps:

• Heat a large pot over medium-high. Add oil and garlic; cook, stirring occasionally, until garlic is golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in tomato paste; cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add beans and wine; simmer, stirring occasionally, until liquid has thickened and wine has almost evaporated, about 4 minutes. Add 8 cups water, sage, and cheese; season with salt and black pepper. Simmer, partially covered, over medium-low 25 minutes.
• Bring soup to a boil, stir in pasta, and cook until al dente according to package instructions, stirring occasionally. Add chicory; cook, stirring, just until wilted, about 1 minute. Serve, topped with grated cheese and red-pepper flakes.