Best Super Quick Minestrone Recipes

Super Quick Minestrone image

Provided by Michael Chiarello : Food Network

Time 1h10m

Yield 8 to 10 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

1 cup (4 ounces) tubetti pasta, or other small pasta shape
Extra-virgin olive oil
6 cups chicken stock
1/4 pound pancetta, cut into 3 pieces
6 medium garlic cloves, each cut in 1/2 lengthwise
2 cups finely chopped yellow onions (2 small onions)
1 cup small-diced celery (2 medium stalks)
1 cup small-diced carrots (2 to 3 medium carrots)
1 tablespoon finely chopped rosemary or thyme leaves
1 (14-ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1 (14 1/2-ounce) can diced tomatoes
4 cups small-diced zucchini (green/yellow) (5 small zucchini)
2 cups small-diced, peeled russet potatoes (1 large russet)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan

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.

SUPER-QUICK & EASY VEGETABLE (MINESTRONE-INSPIRED) SOUP image

Yield 8 bowls

Number Of Ingredients 13

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2 large onion, diced
2 carrots, peeled & sliced
small dash red pepper flakes
dash dried Italian seasoning or your own combo of basil, oregano, etc.
splash dry white wine (not too much or flavor will be overwhelming - maybe 1-2 tablespoons)
48 oz low-sodium chicken broth
1 can "petite-cut" diced tomatoes in juice, drained
3 stalks celery, sliced thick
1/4 head green cabbage, shredded
2 zucchini, quartered legthwise and sliced into bite-sized pieces
1 bag pre-washed baby spinach
fresh ground black pepper

Steps:

Sautee onion & carrot in stock pot over medium heat in vegetable oil until onion starts to soften, but is not limp. Stir in Italian Seasoning and red pepper flakes, then add white wine and allow to evaporate. Stir in broth and tomatoes, bring to boil, reduce and simmer 5-10 min. Add celery 5 min. more, then cabbage and zucchini. Simmer unil vegetables are soft to pierce with a fork, but not over-cooked. Add black pepper to taste. Remove from heat and stir in fresh baby spinach.