Description
Winter Minestrone Soup is a hearty, comforting soup made with winter vegetables, beans, quinoa, and fresh herbs. It is nourishing, flavorful, and perfect for cold days when you want a wholesome, satisfying meal.
Ingredients
1½ cups cooked cannellini or butter beans, rinsed and drained
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
1 cup celery, diced
1 cup red onion, diced
3–4 cloves garlic, minced
2 bay leaves
2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
8 cups vegetable or chicken stock or water
1 cup celeriac, cubed
1 medium sweet potato, diced
1 (14½-ounce) can diced tomatoes with juice
½ cup uncooked quinoa
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2 cups chopped fresh kale, ribs removed
3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh basil
2 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated (optional)
Instructions
1. If using dried beans, soak overnight, then simmer in fresh water with aromatics until tender. Drain and reserve cooking liquid. Skip this step if using canned beans.
2. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add carrots, celery, red onion, garlic, bay leaves, and thyme. Cook for about 8 minutes until softened and fragrant.
3. Transfer the sautéed vegetables to a large pot with the cooked beans and their cooking liquid or stock.
4. Add celeriac, sweet potato, diced tomatoes, and quinoa. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for about 20 minutes.
5. Remove bay leaves and season with salt and pepper to taste.
6. Add chopped kale and cook for 5–8 minutes until wilted. Add more liquid if the soup is too thick.
7. Stir in fresh basil just before serving.
8. Serve hot, topped with grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
This soup tastes even better the next day as the flavors develop.
Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
For a vegan version, omit the Parmesan cheese.
You can substitute other winter vegetables depending on availability.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 262
- Sugar: 4.7 g
- Sodium: 651.1 mg
- Fat: 8.7 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5.8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35.6 g
- Fiber: 8.9 g
- Protein: 12.4 g
- Cholesterol: 6.8 mg