This vibrant green minestrone is a delightful twist on the classic Italian soup, bringing together an array of fresh vegetables and hearty flavors. Perfect for a nourishing meal, this soup combines the earthiness of swiss chard and spinach with the comforting textures of potatoes and pasta. Topped with a sprinkle of parmesan, it's a wholesome and satisfying dish.
Photos of Green Minestrone Recipe
When gathering ingredients, fennel bulb might not be a staple in your pantry. It's a vegetable with a mild licorice flavor that adds a unique depth to the soup. Swiss chard and fresh spinach are key to the soup's vibrant green color and nutritional value. Look for these in the produce section of your supermarket.
Ingredients For Green Minestrone Recipe
Olive oil: Essential for sautéing the vegetables, providing a rich base flavor.
Onion: Adds a sweet and savory depth to the soup.
Fennel bulb: Offers a subtle licorice flavor that enhances the overall taste.
Celery: Contributes to the aromatic foundation of the soup.
Salt: Enhances all the flavors in the soup.
Boiling potatoes: Adds heartiness and texture, making the soup more filling.
Low-sodium chicken broth: Forms the base liquid of the soup, providing flavor without too much salt.
Water: Dilutes the broth slightly, ensuring the right consistency.
Fresh ground black pepper: Adds a hint of heat and depth.
Tubetti: A small pasta that adds substance to the soup.
Swiss chard: Adds color, flavor, and nutrition.
Spinach: Enhances the green color and provides additional nutrients.
Parmesan: Adds a salty, umami-rich finish to the soup.
One reader, Athene Temple says:
This green minestrone recipe is a delightful, hearty soup packed with fresh vegetables and vibrant flavors. The combination of swiss chard, spinach, and parmesan creates a comforting and nutritious meal. Perfect for a cozy night in!
Key Techniques for Making Green Minestrone
How to chop vegetables: Explanation on how to chop the onion, fennel, and celery into uniform pieces for even cooking. How to peel and dice potatoes: Explanation on how to properly peel and dice boiling potatoes for the soup. How to cook pasta: Explanation on how to cook tubetti pasta until tender within the soup. How to prepare swiss chard and spinach: Explanation on how to clean, trim, and chop swiss chard and spinach before adding them to the soup. How to grate parmesan: Explanation on how to grate parmesan cheese to stir into the soup.
How To Make Green Minestrone
Enjoy a warm bowl of this green minestrone that combines chicken broth, tubetti pasta, and spinach for a filling dish that’s perfect for the cold weather.
Serves:
Ingredients
- 3tbspolive oil
- 1onion
- 1fennel bulb
- 3celery ribs
- 1½tspsalt
- 1lbboiling potatoes
- 4cupslow-sodium chicken broth,canned, or homemade stock
- 3cupswater
- ¼tspfresh ground black pepper
- ½cuptubetti,or other small macaroni
- ½lbswiss chard
- 1lbspinach
- ⅓cupparmesan,grated
Instructions
-
In a large saucepan, heat the oil over moderately low heat. Add the onion, fennel, celery, and ¼ teaspoon of the salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes until the vegetables start to soften.
-
Add the potatoes, broth, water, the remaining salt, and the pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in the pasta and simmer for 5 minutes longer.
-
Add the Swiss chard and spinach and bring the soup back to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally for about 5 minutes longer until the greens are wilted and the pasta is tender. Stir in the Parmesan.
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Serve and enjoy.
Nutrition
- Calories: 336.54kcal
- Fat: 15.63g
- Saturated Fat: 4.06g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 9.07g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 1.84g
- Carbohydrates: 37.52g
- Fiber: 8.77g
- Sugar: 6.42g
- Protein: 17.08g
- Cholesterol: 8.43mg
- Sodium: 1394.75mg
- Calcium: 365.74mg
- Potassium: 1911.36mg
- Iron: 6.22mg
- Vitamin A: 765.72µg
- Vitamin C: 81.48mg
Crucial Technique Tip for Perfect Minestrone Soup
To enhance the flavor of the onion, fennel, and celery, make sure to cook them slowly over moderately low heat until they are soft and slightly caramelized. This will bring out their natural sweetness and add depth to your green minestrone.
Time-Saving Tips for Making This Minestrone Recipe
Prep ingredients in advance: Chop the onion, fennel, and celery the night before to save time on cooking day.
Use pre-washed greens: Opt for pre-washed and pre-cut spinach and swiss chard to skip the washing and chopping steps.
Quick-cook potatoes: Dice the boiling potatoes into smaller pieces to reduce their cooking time.
Instant broth: Use low-sodium chicken broth from a carton or can to avoid the time-consuming process of making it from scratch.
Pre-grated cheese: Buy pre-grated parmesan to eliminate the need for grating it yourself.
Substitute Ingredients For Green Minestrone Recipe
olive oil - Substitute with canola oil: Canola oil has a neutral flavor and similar cooking properties.
onion - Substitute with shallots: Shallots have a milder taste and can add a subtle sweetness.
fennel bulb - Substitute with celery root: Celery root has a similar texture and a slightly earthy flavor.
celery ribs - Substitute with carrots: Carrots provide a similar crunch and a touch of sweetness.
salt - Substitute with soy sauce: Soy sauce adds a salty and umami flavor.
boiling potatoes - Substitute with sweet potatoes: Sweet potatoes offer a different flavor profile and a bit of sweetness.
low-sodium chicken broth - Substitute with vegetable broth: Vegetable broth is a great vegetarian alternative with a rich flavor.
water - Substitute with vegetable stock: Vegetable stock adds more depth of flavor compared to plain water.
fresh ground black pepper - Substitute with white pepper: White pepper has a milder taste and can be less visually noticeable.
tubetti - Substitute with orzo: Orzo has a similar small shape and cooks quickly.
swiss chard - Substitute with kale: Kale has a similar texture and can withstand cooking without becoming too soft.
spinach - Substitute with arugula: Arugula has a peppery flavor and can add a different dimension to the soup.
parmesan - Substitute with pecorino romano: Pecorino Romano has a similar texture and a slightly saltier taste.
Best Way to Present This Vibrant Green Soup
Serve in a deep, wide-rimmed bowl: This allows the vibrant colors of the green minestrone to shine and provides ample space for the ingredients to be displayed beautifully.
Garnish with fresh herbs: Add a sprinkle of finely chopped parsley or basil on top to enhance the visual appeal and add a burst of fresh flavor.
Drizzle with high-quality olive oil: Just before serving, drizzle a small amount of extra virgin olive oil over the soup to add a glossy finish and a touch of richness.
Use a parmesan crisp: Instead of mixing the parmesan into the soup, create a delicate parmesan crisp by baking grated parmesan until golden and placing it on top for a crunchy texture contrast.
Add a dollop of crème fraîche: For an extra layer of creaminess, place a small dollop of crème fraîche in the center of the soup. It will slowly melt and blend with the flavors.
Serve with artisan bread: Accompany the soup with a slice of toasted artisan bread brushed with olive oil and a hint of garlic to complement the hearty flavors of the minestrone.
Highlight the vegetables: Ensure that pieces of fennel, celery, and potatoes are visible and evenly distributed in the bowl to showcase the variety of ingredients.
Use a microplane for fresh parmesan: Instead of pre-grated parmesan, use a microplane to grate fresh parmesan over the soup tableside for an aromatic and visual flourish.
Add a touch of lemon zest: Grate a small amount of lemon zest over the soup just before serving to add a bright, zesty note that complements the greens.
Serve with a side of infused oil: Provide a small dish of herb-infused olive oil on the side, allowing guests to customize their soup with an extra layer of flavor.
Essential Tools for Making Minestrone Soup
Large saucepan: Used to cook the soup and combine all the ingredients together.
Wooden spoon: Ideal for stirring the vegetables and soup without scratching the saucepan.
Chef's knife: Essential for chopping the onion, fennel, celery, and potatoes.
Cutting board: Provides a safe surface for chopping all the vegetables.
Measuring spoons: Used to measure the olive oil, salt, and pepper accurately.
Measuring cups: Necessary for measuring the chicken broth, water, and parmesan.
Colander: Useful for washing the spinach and swiss chard before adding them to the soup.
Grater: Needed to grate the parmesan cheese.
Ladle: Perfect for serving the soup into bowls.
Bowls: Used for serving the finished minestrone.
Storing and Freezing Homemade Minestrone Soup
To store leftover green minestrone, allow the soup to cool completely to room temperature before transferring it to an airtight container. Refrigerate the soup for up to 3-4 days.
When reheating refrigerated minestrone, you may need to add a little extra broth or water to thin out the soup, as the pasta and vegetables will have absorbed some of the liquid.
For longer storage, you can freeze the minestrone for up to 3 months. To freeze:
- Let the soup cool completely to room temperature.
- Transfer the soup to freezer-safe containers or resealable bags, leaving some space at the top for expansion.
- Label the containers or bags with the date and contents.
- Place the containers or bags in the freezer, laying them flat for easier storage.
To thaw frozen minestrone, transfer the container from the freezer to the refrigerator and let it thaw overnight. Alternatively, you can thaw the soup in the microwave using the defrost setting.
When reheating frozen minestrone, pour the thawed soup into a saucepan and heat it over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until it's heated through. You may need to add extra broth or water to achieve the desired consistency, as the pasta and vegetables may have absorbed some of the liquid during freezing and thawing.
If you plan on freezing the minestrone, consider undercooking the pasta slightly, as it will continue to soften when reheated. This will help prevent the pasta from becoming mushy.
How to Reheat Leftover Minestrone Soup
Reheat the green minestrone in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally until it reaches the desired temperature. This method ensures even heating and allows the flavors to meld together once again.
If you prefer a quicker reheating method, transfer the leftover soup to a microwave-safe bowl and cover it with a damp paper towel. Microwave on high for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through, until the soup is heated through. Be careful when removing the bowl from the microwave, as it may be hot.
For a creamier texture, add a splash of chicken broth or water to the minestrone while reheating. This will help loosen up the soup and prevent it from becoming too thick.
If you find that the pasta has absorbed too much liquid and become mushy, you can add a handful of freshly cooked tubetti or any other small pasta shape to the reheated soup. This will provide a nice texture contrast and make the soup more enjoyable.
To brighten up the flavors of the reheated minestrone, add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice or a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese just before serving. These simple additions can make a world of difference in terms of taste.
If you have any leftover spinach or Swiss chard, you can chop them up and stir them into the reheated soup for an extra boost of nutrients and flavor. The greens will wilt quickly in the hot soup, so there's no need to cook them separately.
Interesting Fact About Minestrone Soup
A unique aspect of this green minestrone recipe is its use of fennel, which adds a subtle anise flavor, enhancing the overall taste profile of the soup.
Is Making Minestrone at Home Cost-Effective?
This green minestrone recipe is quite cost-effective for a household. The main ingredients like onion, fennel, celery, potatoes, and spinach are affordable and widely available. The use of low-sodium chicken broth and parmesan adds flavor without breaking the bank. Overall, this recipe scores an 8 out of 10 in terms of cost-effectiveness. The approximate cost for a household of 4 people is around $15-$20 USD.
Is This Minestrone Soup Healthy or Unhealthy?
This green minestrone recipe is a nutritious and well-balanced dish. It is packed with various vegetables such as onion, fennel, celery, potatoes, Swiss chard, and spinach, providing a wide range of vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber. The use of low-sodium chicken broth helps to reduce the overall sodium content of the soup. Additionally, the inclusion of tubetti pasta adds a source of complex carbohydrates, which can provide sustained energy.
However, there are a few aspects of this recipe that could be improved to make it even healthier:
- Consider using whole wheat or legume-based pasta to increase the fiber content and nutritional value of the dish.
- While the recipe already includes a generous amount of vegetables, you could add even more variety, such as carrots, zucchini, or green beans, to further boost the nutrient profile.
- To make the soup more protein-rich, consider adding lean proteins like chicken, turkey, or tofu.
- If you are looking to reduce the fat content, you could use a smaller amount of olive oil or opt for a low-fat alternative like vegetable broth for sautéing the vegetables.
- To enhance the flavor without relying on excessive salt, experiment with additional herbs and spices, such as basil, oregano, or red pepper flakes.
Editor's Opinion on This Green Minestrone Soup
This green minestrone recipe is a delightful, nutrient-packed twist on the classic. The combination of fennel, celery, and spinach provides a fresh, vibrant flavor profile, while the potatoes and tubetti add heartiness. The use of both chicken broth and water ensures a balanced, not overly salty base. Swiss chard and spinach bring a beautiful green hue and a wealth of vitamins. The final touch of parmesan adds a savory depth, making each spoonful satisfying. Overall, it's a well-rounded, wholesome soup perfect for a comforting meal.
Enhance Your Green Minestrone Recipe with These Unique Side Dishes:
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Why trust this Green Minestrone Recipe:
This green minestrone recipe is a delightful twist on the classic, packed with nutritious vegetables like fennel, celery, swiss chard, and spinach. The combination of boiling potatoes and tubetti pasta creates a hearty base, while the parmesan adds a rich, savory finish. Using low-sodium chicken broth ensures a healthier option without sacrificing flavor. This recipe has been carefully crafted and tested to guarantee a satisfying and wholesome meal. Trust in the quality ingredients and balanced flavors for a comforting bowl of green minestrone.
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