Colorful Minestrone Recipes

OVER-THE-RAINBOW MINESTRONE

Steps:

• Cut stems from chard; chop stems and leaves separately. Reserve leaves for adding later. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and chard stems; cook and stir until tender, 3-5 minutes. Transfer to a 6-qt. slow cooker., Stir in broth, tomatoes, kidney beans, garbanzo beans, squash, pepper, carrot and garlic. Cook, covered, on low until vegetables are tender, 6-8 hours., Stir in pasta and reserved chard leaves. Cook, covered, on low, until pasta is tender, 20-25 minutes longer; stir in pesto. If desired, serve with additional pesto, Parmesan cheese, red pepper flakes and fresh basil.

COLORFUL MINESTRONE

Steps:

• In a skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat; saute onion, leek and pancetta until onion is tender, about 2 minutes. Add garlic; cook and stir 1 minute. Transfer to a 5-qt. slow cooker. Stir in all remaining ingredients except beans., Cook, covered, on low until vegetables are tender, 6-8 hours., Stir in beans. Cook, covered, on low until heated through, about 30 minutes.

TORTELLINI MINESTRONE

Steps:

• In large saucepan melt butter.
• Add onion and saute 5 minutes til soft.
• Stir in squash and garlic and saute 2 minutes.
• Add broth and bread.
• Heat on high, cover and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.
• Reduce heat to low and simmer 2-3 minutes.
• Add tortellini and simmer 7 minutes.
• Increase heat to high and boil.
• Add broccoli and cook until tender about 4 minutes.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Stir in tomatoes and serve pronto.

7 COLOR MINESTRONE

Steps:

• 1. In a 5-quart open kettle, lightly sauté leek, onion, and garlic in oil. 2. Add carrots, bell pepper, tomatoes, basil, arugula, oregano, thyme, sorrel, beef stock paste, black pepper, salt, and water. 3. Cover and simmer at least 1 hour (2 hours if time permits). Longer cooking time blends flavors even more. The soup can also be placed in a slow cooker and simmered on its lowest setting during the day. 4. Twenty minute s before the end of cooking, add the uncooked pasta. Uncover pot and stir frequently to make sure pasta doesn't stick. 5. Just before serving, stir in beans. 6. Ladle into large soup bowls and sprinkle with grated cheese.

MINESTRONE SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the Spectrum Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil in a heavy bottom soup pot.
• Add in the onion and garlic and saute for 5 minutes or until the onion is soft.
• Stir in celery, carrots, squash and saute for 5 minutes more.
• Add in the Imagine Organic Vegetable Cooking Stock, potatoes, chard, spinach, pasta and tomatoes, and bring to a boil.
• Lower heat and simmer for 10-12 minutes or until the potatoes are soft and the pasta has cooked.
• Stir in the basil and Parmesan. Season to taste.
• Divide between 8 warm soup bowls and grate some fresh Parmesan over each bowl.

MINESTRONE WITH KALE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large soup pot over medium heat, and add the onion and carrots.
• Cook, stirring often, until the onion turns translucent and the carrots glisten, about 7 minutes.
• Stir in the garlic and cook, stirring, for another minute or so, until the garlic begins to smell fragrant.
• Add the tomatoes and their liquid and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes, until the tomatoes have cooked down a bit.
• Add the beans, kale, parsley, water, and bay leaves.
• Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover partially, and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes, until the flavors are all incorporated and the kale is tender.
• Add the cooked pasta, and stir to incorporate.
• Cook for 5 minutes more, tasting and adjusting the salt and pepper as needed, then remove from heat and serve.

MINESTRONE

Steps:

• In a large bowl let the white beans soak in enough water to cover them by 2 inches overnight or quick-soak them. Drain the white beans, in a saucepan combine them with enough water to cover them by 2 inches, and simmer them, uncovered, adding more water if necessary to keep them barely covered, for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until they are tender. Add the salt and simmer the white beans for 5 minutes more. Remove the pan from the heat and let the white beans stand, uncovered.
• In a heavy kettle cook the pancetta in the oil over moderate heat, stirring, until it is crisp and pale golden, add the onion, and cook the mixture, stirring, until the onion is softened. Add the carrots, the celery, and the garlic and cook the mixture, stirring, for 4 minutes. Add the zucchini, the green beans, and the potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch dice, and cook the mixture, stirring, for 4 minutes. Add the cabbage and the kale and cook the mixture, stirring, until the cabbage is wilted. Add the tomatoes and the broth and simmer the soup, covered, for 1 hour.
• Drain the white beans, reserving the liquid, in a blender or food processor purée half of them with 1 cup of the reserved liquid, and stir the purée and the remaining white beans into the soup. Simmer the soup, uncovered, for 15 minutes, thin it if desired with some of the remaining reserve liquid, and season it with salt and pepper. The soup may be made 3 days in advance and kept covered and chilled. Reheat the soup, thinning it with water as desired. Serve the soup with the Parmesan, the bruschetta, and the sausages.