Best Michaels Home Style Minestrone Recipes

SUPER QUICK MINESTRONE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain and transfer the pasta to a baking sheet. Toss the pasta with a little olive oil to prevent sticking.
• In a large saucepan over medium heat, warm the chicken stock.
• In another large saucepan over high heat, heat 1/4 cup oil. When the oil is hot but not smoking, add the pancetta and cook until it begins to brown, 3 to 4 minutes, turning occasionally. Add the garlic and cook until it begins to brown, about 1 minute, stirring occasionally. Lower the heat to medium and add the onions, celery, and carrots.
• Cook until the vegetables are soft, 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent browning. Add the chopped herbs. Raise the heat to high. Add the beans, tomatoes, zucchini, and potatoes. Add the chicken stock and bring to a boil. Then bring it down to a simmer and cook until the potatoes are tender, 12 to 15 minutes, skimming any foam off the top of the soup. Season generously with pepper. Add salt, to taste. Just a few minutes before serving, add the cooked tubetti pasta. Serve warm with Parmesan and olive oil passed at the table.
• Cooking notes: Add the cooked pasta just before serving. If it sits in the soup too long, it develops a flabby texture. Tubetti (little hollow tubes) are the classic pasta for minestrone, but you could substitute another small shape of pasta.

HOME-STYLE MINESTRONE

Steps:

• In 6-quart stockpot, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add garlic; cook and stir until garlic begins to brown. Stir in onions, celery and carrots; cook 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender.
• Stir in rosemary, beans, tomatoes, zucchini, pasta and broth. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat; cover and simmer about 20 minutes or until pasta is tender. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with cheese.

CONTEST-WINNING EASY MINESTRONE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, saute the carrots, celery and onion in oil and butter until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer., Stir in the broth, tomato sauce, beans, chickpeas, tomatoes, cabbage, basil, parsley, oregano and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Add macaroni; cook, uncovered, 6-8 minutes or until macaroni and vegetables are tender., Ladle soup into bowls. Sprinkle with cheese. Freeze option: Before adding cheese, freeze cooled soup in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a saucepan, stirring occasionally and adding a little broth or water if necessary.

MICHELE'S MINESTRONE

Steps:

• First, peel and thinly slice the carrots. Peel the potatoes and cut them into a 1/2-inch dice. In a large saucepan place the broth, carrots, and potatoes. Bring to a boil over medium heat, and then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until the potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes. Then add the beans, spinach, and pasta to the soup. Bring the soup back to a boil, cover and simmer over medium heat until the pasta is cooked, about 10 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and remove from heat. Add the cheese, stirring until it is softened. Ladle into bowls and serve immediately.

BHG CLASSIC MINESTRONE

Steps:

• In a 4-quart Dutch oven cook garlic and onion in hot oil until tender. Add sweet pepper, zucchini, broth, and 2 cups water. Bring to boiling. Rinse and drain beans. Add drained beans and pasta; return to boil. Reduce heat. and simmer, covered, for 10 to 12 minutes or until pasta is tender, stirring occasionally.
• Stir in tomatoes, spinach, and fresh basil (if using). Remove from heat. Season to taste with salt and ground black pepper.
• Top with Parmesan cheese. Serves 6.