Healthy, hearty, tasty and completely tummy warming, this minestrone soup was the invention for one of the nights my in-laws were visiting and it ended up being a mighty success. Of course, since I doubled it and made enough to feed a small country, we ate it for three days straight which probably lessened the success factor a bit, but hey, I’m all about capitalizing on a meal that works, even if it means major overkill.
The flavors are simple but classic: onions, garlic and bacon form the starting base of the soup and it builds simply with a stash of vegetables, small pasta, white beans and a light tomato broth. Served with a delicious dinner roll and a slice of cheese and this soup makes for a quick, fantastic meal perfect for the cooler weather.
One Year Ago: Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
Two Years Ago: Creamy Chicken Fettuccine
Autumn Minestrone Soup
Printable Version
Printable Version with Picture
*Serves 6
INGREDIENTS:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, diced
6 ounces turkey or regular bacon or ham, chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
2 (14.5 oz.) cans diced tomatoes
2 (15 oz.) cans Great Northern beans, rinsed and drained
½ cup chopped carrots
2 celery stalks, chopped
¼ cup chopped flat-leaf fresh parsley
2 potatoes, peeled and diced (I leave the peels on with red potatoes)
1 zucchini, diced
1 teaspoon dried thyme
3 cups chicken broth
1 cup water
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
½ cup to ¾ cup small pasta
DIRECTIONS:
Heat the oil over medium heat in a large pot until shimmering. Add the onion and bacon and sauté until the onion is translucent, stirring frequently. Add the garlic and stir, cooking for one minute. Add all the other ingredients except the pasta and simmer, stirring occasionally, partially covered for 20-30 minutes, until the vegetables are tender. Add the pasta and simmer for 10 minutes longer. Serve.
Recipe Source: My Kitchen Cafe
{ 33 comments… read them below or add one }
What a gorgeous soup! I love the bacon…I bet it gives it a nice smokey flavor. This looks like the perfect Fall dinner to me!
I bet the bacon adds a great flavor enhancement to a typical meatless soup!! Yum!
This looks delightful!
This makes me wish it was cold outside so I can have a bowl of this!
This looks great! I will be trying this for sure! Thanks for all the great recipes!
Ah, the perfect season to get to soup making. And if this delightful concoction made the in-laws happy, so much the better.
Oooo, that sounds like a winner! And it’s nice and chilly outside today. Perfect! Thank you!
I have only recently found your site and really enjoy it!
I am curious as to how you get your recipes into a printable format though?
I have a recipe blog and my family back home is always asking about the recipes but they have a hard time printing them. Is there a gadget I can add to my recipe blog to begin printing them out?
I have a minestrone soup ready to post tomorrow – we are thinking alike these days
So good and healthy!
That’s so funny you posted minestrone because I was about to comment and ask if you had a good recipe
Thanks for reading my mind!
ahhh, bless you Mel….bless you and your mad cooking skills! It just started to rain here in “sunny California” and I opened up your site and TA-DA dinner is right before my eyes! The only thing better would be if I could just print it out…and serve! alright fine, I guess that is asking a bit much! Thanks for dinner
I could probalby eat minestrone soup every day for the rest of my life. I’ve never met a version I didn’t like! Yours looks divine!
Instead of zucchini, I use dark greens: spinach in the spring/summer and swiss chard in the fall/winter.
mmm this looks so good!!! I love that there is meat in it!!! I’m totally bookmarking this to make next week!
i was just gazing at the minestrone made by pam of sidewalk shoes. i therefore take it as a sign that i need a batch of this cooking on my stove posthaste.
LOVE the looks of this soup! I often make a similar soup and sprinkle it with grated cheese and a dollop of pesto sauce (we call it Soup Au Pistou in my family).
Happy Friday to you!
~avril
Your pictures are so incredible-every post. They make me want to lick my computer screen. Weird as it sounds, it is true! You blog is just so beautiful and clean. Thanks for all your time. I can’t believe how easy meal planning has been this year for me, thanks to you!
Hi Kelly – I just use google docs (docs.google.com) where I create a printable version, click the “Share” button and use the link it gives me to include in my blog post. Email me if you need more details!
Made this for dinner tonight-YUMMY! The only thing I will change next time is to add more liquid. Definitely adding this to my soup recipe collection!
Thanks, Kandi!
Made this tonight for dinner-it was so delicious! Thanks for the recipe.
DELICIOUS! I made this tonight for dinner. I used whole wheat pasta and no one could tell. I love soup season…and this has become a new favorite. Thank you!
Thanks, Marne!
Jannifer – thank you!
It’s bubbling on the stove right now. My kids and husband keep telling how awesome the house smells. I have a “turkey” bacon loving kid, so I hope this will make them all happy tomorrow for dinner.
I love your site. Tuesday night we are having the pork that you recently posted. I can’t wait!
Nicole – so glad the smell of this soup has made your family look forward to it! Hope it doesn’t disappoint. (Good luck with the pork…)
Minnestrone seems like a simple, basic soup, but this was SO good. I couldn’t stop eating it. Thanks!!
Thanks, SJ!
This was really yummy. I always put the noodles on the side, spoon a few into the bowls and pour the soup over them whenever I make a minestrone so I can freeze the rest.
Holly – um, brilliant idea on the noodles. You better believe I’ll be incorporating that tip in for future minestrone nights. Love it!
I’m wondering…could I substitute barley for the noodles? Or would barley not work well in this dish?
Patricialynn – that’s a good question! I’ve never tried it but if you properly prepare the barley (soak and then cook long enough), I’m sure it would work. Let me know if you try it!
making this right now! It smells divine! I’m glad I read the comment about putting the noodles separate into each bowl. There is no way my family will be able to eat all of this soup!! But I can’t wait to dive in. I didn’t realize I’m out of thyme. I hope it tastes ok without it. I also added a little chopped fresh spinach.. because I add spinach to whatever I can. Thanks for all your great recipes! <3 Them!
Nice recipe. Looks very healthy
Here’s another version I like as well.
http://www.wascene.com/food-drink/italian-minestrone-soup/
Thanks for sharing
Jen
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