Best Post Hurricane Minestrone Recipes

Simple Italian Minestrone Soup image

Provided by Suzy Karadsheh

Categories Soup

Number Of Ingredients 20

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 small yellow onion (chopped)
2 carrots (chopped)
2 celery stalks (diced)
4 garlic cloves (minced)
1 zucchini or yellow squash (diced)
1 cup green beans (fresh or frozen, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces, if needed)
Salt and pepper
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp rosemary
1 15- oz can crushed tomatoes
6 cups broth (vegetable or chicken broth)
1- inch Parmesan cheese rind (optional)
1 bay leaf
2 to 3 springs fresh thyme
1 15- oz can kidney beans
Large handful chopped parsley
Handful fresh basil leaves
Grated Parmesan cheese (to serve (optional))
2 cups already cooked small pasta such as ditalini or elbow pasta

Steps:

In a large Dutch oven, heat the extra virgin olive oil over medium heat until shimmering but not smoking. Add onions, carrots and celery. Raise heat to medium-high, if you need to, and cook, tossing regularly, until the veggies soften a bit (about 5 minutes or so). Add the garlic and cook another minute, tossing regularly.
Add the zucchini or yellow squash and green beans. Season with paprika, rosemary, and a generous pinch of kosher salt and pepper. Toss to combine.
Now add the crushed tomatoes, broth, fresh thyme, bay leaf and Parmesan rind (if using.) Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a gentle simmer and partially cover the pot. Let simmer for about 20 minutes or so.
Uncover the pot and add the kidney beans. Cook for another 5 to 10 minutes.
Finally, Stir in the parsley and fresh basil. And, if serving immediately, stir in the cooked pasta and simmer ever so briefly till the pasta is warmed through; do not overcook. (See Cook's Tip #2)
Remove the cheese rind and bay leaf. Taste and adjust seasoning to your liking. Serve the minestrone hot in dinner bowls with a sprinkle of grated Parmesan (optional.)

Nutrition Facts : Calories 211.9 kcal, SaturatedFat 1.5 g, Carbohydrate 26.7 g, Fiber 7.4 g, Protein 6.8 g, Cholesterol 0.7 mg, ServingSize 1 serving

POST-HURRICANE

Yield 4-6 main-course servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

8 ounces spoon-sized pasta (elbows, corkscrews, etc.)*
1 Tablespoon olive oil
2-3 Cloves garlic, minced
1 medium-sized onion, chopped
1 large can (28 oz.) chopped tomatoes (or whole tomatoes, chopped)
1 15 oz. can beef broth (or substitute chicken broth)
2 15 oz. cans beans (I recommend one can small white beans and one can small red beans), drained and rinsed
1/2 teaspoon (approximately) Italian seasoning OR basil OR oregano (whatever you have in pantry)
Grated parmesan (optional)
Fresh black pepper (optional)
Crushed red pepper (optional)

Steps:

1. Boil pasta until al dente in salted water, drain, set aside. 2. Meanwhile, in large soup pot over medium-high heat, heat olive oil (or use cooking spray to further reduce fat), then sauté garlic and onion for a few minutes until soft but not browned.** 3. Add tomatoes with juice, broth, beans, and seasonings. Add 1/2 to one soup can of water, if needed, until desired soup consistency. 4. Simmer about 15-20 minutes, covered, or until vegetables are tender. 5. To serve, divide pasta among 4-6 large soup bowls (use less pasta if limiting carbohydrates) and ladle soup over. Top with a sprinkle of grated cheese and pepper(s), if desired. Notes: *pasta should not be added to the soup until serving, otherwise it gets mushy. Keep leftovers separate, too. ** carrots, celery, peppers, string beans, frozen okra or whatever other vegetables you have on hand can be sautéed along with the onion/garlic; add more oil/cooking spray if needed.