Vegetarian Minestrone Soup Recipe - Peas and Crayons (2024)

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Published: December 7, 2014Updated: October 22, 2018Author: Jenn Laughlin

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Vegetarian Minestrone Soup FTW! Is your crisper currently bursting at the seams? Good! Let’s make this healthy soup!

Vegetarian Minestrone Soup Recipe - Peas and Crayons (1)

We couldn’t keep our hands off this soup!

This hearty vegetarian minestrone soup is the perfect use for all your favorite seasonal veggies.

It’ll fill you up without weighing you down so take a break from the turkey, put down the pie, and sneak this light and tasty soup onto your weekday menu!

Soup, to me, has always been a warm hug on a cold day. With the winter chill finally starting to set in, I’ll take all the hugs I can get!

The recipe below makes a giant pot that’s perfect to share and makes glorious leftovers for the following days. Bring a bowl to work for lunch or curl up with a bowl after a long day for dinner. Add a few slices of crusty baguette with butter and you have the recipe for the most divine comfort food coma.

Vegetarian Minestrone Soup Recipe - Peas and Crayons (2)

Homemade Vegetarian Minestrone Soup

This tasty recipe yields approx. 2 quarts of soup. This will serve 8 cups or 4-5 larger bowls! The leftovers are AMAZING so enjoy some now and squirrel some away for later!

I had originally intended to freeze the leftovers this week, but Paul and I picked up an extra french baguette and scarfedthis soup 1-2 times a day for 4 days until it was gone. I think it’s safe to say we loved it and cannot wait to make it again.

Vegetarian Minestrone Soup Recipe - Peas and Crayons (3)

Vegetarian Minestrone Soup

This homemade vegetarian minestrone soup is vegetarian comfort food at it's best!

Recipe yields 2 quarts of soup and yields 8 cups or 4 larger bowls of soup.

5 from 10 votes

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Course: Soup

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: Vegetarian Minestrone Soup

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour

Servings: 8 servings

Author: Jenn Laughlin - Peas and Crayons

Ingredients

  • 1-2 TBSP olive oil
  • 1 cup diced onion (1/2 a large onion)
  • 1 cup diced celery (2 large stalks)
  • 1 cup diced red bell pepper (1 pepper)
  • 2 cups diced carrots
  • 2-4 cloves garlic (smashed and minced)
  • 2 cups cubed butternut squash
  • 5-6 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 cup canned tomato sauce
  • 15 oz cannellini beans, 1 can (rinsed and drained)
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 tsp parsley
  • ½ tsp sea salt or salt to taste
  • ¼ tsp garlic powder
  • ¼ tsp dried basil
  • tsp dried oregano
  • 1-1.5 cups ditalini pasta or equivalent

Instructions

  • Heat 1-2 tablespoons of your favorite olive oil over medium heat in a large pot.

  • Add the onions, carrots, celery, butternut squash and bell pepper, and cook on medium, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables soften, approx 10 minutes.

  • Add the garlic towards the end to prevent burning.

  • Next add your tomato sauce and 5 cups of vegetable broth (save the other cup to add later if desired]) along with your bay leaf, garlic powder, basil, and oregano.

  • Save the salt for the end and season to taste.

  • Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes, until the vegetables are tender.

  • While your soup simmers, bring a pot of water to boil and cook your pasta if you . Some recipes swear by adding the raw noodles to the soup towards the end to add to the thickness of the soup but I always find the result to be a bit slimy and the noodles soak up a ridiculous amount of the broth. For best taste and results, I cook my noodles separately. It's an extra step [and pot] but 100% worth it to me for the difference it makes with soups like minestrone that are a perfect combination of brothy and chunky!

  • Discard the bay leaf.

  • Add the beans and cooked pasta and heat through.

  • If the soup is too thick, add an extra cup of vegetable broth.

  • Depending on the saltiness of your beans, tomato sauce, and broth, you'll want to salt the soup based on personal preference. That may mean no salt at all, just a pinch, or 1/2 tsp like I used. Let your tastebuds be your guide!

  • Serve with slices of crusty baguette spread with your favorite butter.

Notes

Feeling fancy? Whip softened butter with your favorite pesto and serve with a crusty french baguettedunked in the soup sandwich-style - YUM!

adapted from Ina Garten

Nutrition facts below are an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator and do not include extra additions or swaps.

Nutrition

Calories: 214kcal, Carbohydrates: 41g, Protein: 8g, Fat: 2g, Sodium: 932mg, Potassium: 716mg, Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 7g, Vitamin A: 10150IU, Vitamin C: 37.3mg, Calcium: 87mg, Iron: 2.7mg

Did you make this recipe?I want to see! Tag @peasandcrayons on Instagram and Facebook!

Vegetarian Minestrone Soup Recipe - Peas and Crayons (4)

If you get a chance to try this vegetarian minestrone soup, let me know!

You can leave me a comment here (LOVE checking those daily!) or tag @PEASandCRAYONS #PEASANDCRAYONS on Instagram so I can happy dance over your creations! I can’t wait to see what you whip up!

special diets and swaps

  • VEGANSAURUS CHEFS –this one’s for you!
  • GLUTEN-FREE –grab your favorite GF noodles and trade-out/skipthe baguette
  • T-REX – if all you have handy is chicken broth, go for it!

Try these next!

  • One-Pot Chicken and Vegetable Soup
  • Vegetarian Lentil Tortilla Soup (Instant-Pot + Slow Cooker)
  • Slow Cooker Sweet Potato and Cauliflower Soup
  • Madras Lentil Soup

Peas and Crayons is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliated sites at no cost to readers.

Vegetarian Minestrone Soup Recipe - Peas and Crayons (5)

About The Author:

Jenn Laughlin

Hi! I’m Jenn and I’m here to help you eat your veggies! It'll be fun, painless, and pretty darn delicious as I teach you to plan your meals around fresh, seasonal produce with a little help from healthy freezer and pantry staples.

Learn More

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Vegetarian Minestrone Soup Recipe - Peas and Crayons (2024)

FAQs

What is the thickening agent for minestrone? ›

The secret ingredients for the minestrone soup broth are bacon, parmesan and Worcestershire sauce, and a touch of tomato paste which thickens the broth nicely as well has driving home the tomato flavour.

What are all the ingredients in minestrone soup? ›

Common ingredients include beans, onions, celery, carrots, stock, and tomatoes. There is no set recipe for minestrone, since it is usually made out of whatever vegetables are in season. It can be vegetarian, contain meat, or contain a meat-based soup base (such as chicken stock).

What's the difference between minestrone and vegetable soup? ›

Minestrone soup is unique because it typically includes beans, pasta, or rice, as well as vegetables, and the ingredients are always left chunky (it's never blended), making it a heartier option. Vegetable soups are usually simpler and don't typically include beans or pasta, and you could have a blended vegetable soup.

What is Olive Garden minestrone soup made of? ›

2 (15 ounce) cans red kidney beans, drained 2 (15 ounce) cans small white beans or 2 (15 ounce) cans great northern beans, drained 1 (14 ounce) can diced tomatoes 1/2 cup carrot (julienned or shredded) 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano 1 1/2 teaspoons salt 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper ...

What gives vegetable soup that depth of flavor? ›

Dried herbs and seasonings: homemade seasoned salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, and dried bay leaves lend flavor to the soup.

Why is minestrone soup so good? ›

Made with lots of vegetables, greens and various beans, this dish can provide you with super nutrients that slow aging and help you stay fit. Minestrone has always been a symbol of traditional Italian cuisine and the Mediterranean diet. Made with vegetables, greens and beans, it is a super-healthy mixture.

What is the difference between minestrone and Italian wedding soup? ›

It's similar to minestrone, but is made with meatballs; minestrone is usually made from vegetables and pasta. Italian wedding soup is a phenomenal freezer-friendly soup, and it doesn't take long to make – a perfect project for a chilly afternoon!

How do you make canned minestrone taste better? ›

Fresh lemon juice: this is best to add at the end of cooking, otherwise the lemon flavor can become bitter. Cooking Vinegars: such as balsamic vinegar, red wine vinegar, or even apple cider vinegar. Hot sauce: helps to add both acid and heat, so you're getting even more bang for your buck.

Does minestrone soup contain potatoes? ›

There are no hard and fast rules on the ingredients, but generally vegan Sardinian Minestrone soup has onions, garlic, carrots, celery, potatoes, tomatoes and beans.

What's in Campbell's minestrone soup? ›

Each satisfying spoonful of Campbell's® Condensed Minestrone Soup brims with a bounty of farm-grown veggies—from carrots, potatoes, green beans, peas, tomatoes, zucchini and more! —combined with beans and enriched pasta shells. You'll find comfort in this Italian classic.

How do you thicken minestrone soup? ›

You can thicken minestrone soup by adding 2-4 tablespoons of tomato paste. A larger amount of beans, cheese or other veggies can also help thicken the soup up.

What is the difference between pasta fa*gioli and minestrone? ›

Pasta fa*gioli and minestrone are both Italian soups with similar flavors that make use of whatever vegetables you have on hand. The main difference is the beans in the pasta fa*gioli that result in a thicker soup than minestrone, which is traditionally very brothy.

What does minestrone mean in Italian? ›

The word minestrone, meaning a thick vegetable soup, is attested in English from 1871. It is from Italian minestrone, the augmentative form of minestra, 'soup', or more literally 'that which is served', from minestrare, 'to serve', and cognate with administer as in 'to administer a remedy'.

What is the best thickener for vegetable soup? ›

Add flour or cornflour

Put a tablespoon of either into a small bowl and stir in 2-3 tbsp of the soup until you have a smooth mixture. Stir this back into the soup and bring it to a simmer. Cook for a few minutes to allow the starch granules to burst to thicken, and to cook out any flour flavour.

What starch-based thickening agent is used when preparing the minestrone? ›

Here's another trick: let the soup simmer without a lid for an extra couple of minutes. The excess liquid will evaporate, making your soup thicker. Alternatively, mix a thickening agent like arrowroot powder with cold water and stir it into the soup when it's almost done cooking. Cornstarch will do the trick, too.

What is a thickening agent for soup? ›

Cornstarch, tapioca, arrowroot, potato starch, and others will thicken liquid quite effec- tively and result in a smooth translucent gel or glaze. The differences are found in how much of each it takes to thicken the same amount of liquid equally.

What to use to make soup thicker? ›

You can thicken soup by adding flour, cornstarch, or another starchy substitute. For the best results, never add flour or cornstarch directly to your soup. If you do, it will clump up on top. Instead, ladle a small amount of broth into a separate bowl and let it cool.

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