Spicy Sausage Pesto Minestrone Recipes

MINESTRONE WITH ITALIAN SAUSAGE

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, cook sausage and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the carrots, celery and leek; cook for 3 minutes. Add the zucchini, green beans and garlic; cook 1 minute longer. , Stir in the broth, tomatoes, cabbage, basil, oregano and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 45 minutes. , Return to a boil. Stir in the garbanzo beans, pasta and parsley. Cook for 6-9 minutes or until pasta is tender. Serve with cheese.

SAUSAGE PESTO PASTA

Steps:

• Boil a large, salted pot of water for the casarecce pasta. Cook it al dente (8 minutes).
• Meanwhile, prep your vegetables. You can do some prep while the sausages are cooking to save time, but feel free to prep everything prior to starting the sauce if that's easier for you.
• Take the sausage meat out of the casings and crumble it into a deep skillet. Cook it over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until it's browned (about 5-7 minutes). Transfer to a plate.
• Leave the sausage grease in the pan and then add the mushrooms and onions (if there is very little grease then add about a teaspoon of olive oil). Sauté, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms release their water and they get a nice sear and the onions brown (about 5-6 minutes).
• Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
• Add the tomatoes, peppers, chicken broth, and sausage to the skillet. Reduce the heat to medium and cook for around 5 minutes or until the tomatoes have started to lose their shape and the chicken broth has reduced a bit.
• Add in the pesto (stir the jar first), then take the pan off the heat and ensure it's stirred in well. Add a splash of pasta water to the sauce (a couple tablespoons) prior to draining it, and then toss the drained pasta with the sauce. Season with salt & pepper as needed. Serve immediately with parmesan cheese and parsley if desired.

SLOW COOKER MINESTRONE SOUP WITH ITALIAN SAUSAGE AND PESTO

Steps:

• In a large soup pot, brown the Italian sausage over medium to medium-high heat. Drain the fat.
• Meanwhile, chop the onion, celery, carrots, and garlic.
• Add the tomato paste, onions, celery, carrots, garlic, and dried oregano.
• Saute for about 5 minutes.
• Add the can of Italian tomatoes and chicken broth. Turn the heat to high and bring to a boil.
• Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for about 30-45 minutes, until all the carrots are tender.
• Add both cans of beans, the zucchini, yellow squash, and dry pasta. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.
• Simmer another 10 minutes, until the pasta is cooked.
• At this point, you can add another cup or two of chicken broth, if you feel like it's not "soupy" enough.
• Turn off the heat and stir in the baby spinach. I like to roughly chop mine so it's easier to eat, but you don't have to!
• Wait about 5 minutes for the spinach to wilt, and then it's ready to serve. Season with salt and pepper. (I actually didn't add any! Sign of a killer soup, right?)
• Garnish each bowl with a teaspoon of pesto and a few grates of Parmesan cheese.

HEARTY SAUSAGE MINESTRONE

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, cook sausage, onion, celery and carrots over medium heat 8-10 minutes or until sausage is no longer pink and onion is tender, breaking sausage into crumbles; drain., Stir in tomatoes, beans, broth, garlic powder and pepper; bring to a boil. Add pasta; cook, covered, 6-8 minutes or until pasta is tender. Freeze option: Freeze cooled minestrone in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a saucepan, stirring occasionally; add a little broth if necessary.

PESTO MINESTRONE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, saute onion in oil until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the water, mixed vegetables, broth, oregano, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 3 minutes. , Add the tortellini, zucchini and pesto. Simmer, uncovered, 7-9 minutes longer or until pasta and vegetables are tender.

HEARTY MINESTRONE SOUP

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, cook the sausage until no longer pink. Remove with a slotted spoon to paper towel to drain, reserving 1 tablespoon of drippings. Saute celery and onion in drippings for 5 minutes. Add sausage and remaining ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20-30 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.

MINESTRONE WITH PESTO

Steps:

• Heat oil over medium heat in a stockpot. Stir in leek and onion and cook for 5 to 6 minutes. Add carrots, celery, and garlic; cook for 5 minutes. Add potatoes and cook for 2 to 3 minutes more.
• Pour hot vegetable broth into the pot and stir well. Add bay leaf and thyme; season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and let simmer for 10 to 12 minutes.
• Stir in zucchini and peas. Let simmer for 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, cover, and let simmer for 5 to 8 minutes.
• Uncover the pot and stir in beans. Let simmer for 10 minutes; stir in pesto sauce and let simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand for 3 to 4 minutes. Serve topped with Parmesan cheese.

KALE MINESTRONE WITH PISTOU

Steps:

• Minestrone:
• Tie oregano, rosemary, and bay leaves together with kitchen twine.
• Heat oil in a large heavy pot over medium. Add pancetta, if using, and cook, stirring often, until browned around the edges, about 5 minutes. Add onion, leek, carrots, celery, garlic, and red pepper flakes; season with salt. Cook, stirring often, until onion is translucent and carrots are tender, 10-12 minutes. Add tomato paste and cook, stirring to coat, until slightly darkened, about 3 minutes.
• Add tomatoes, crushing with your hands as you go, then herb bundle, Parmesan rind, if using, and 6 cups water or reserved bean cooking liquid, or a combination. Season with salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Add potatoes, reduce heat, and simmer until potatoes are tender and flavors have melded, 20-25 minutes. Add kale and beans; cook until kale is tender, about 5 minutes. Discard Parmesan rind and herb bundle.
• Do ahead: Soup can be made 2 days ahead (or 2 months if frozen). Let cool; transfer to airtight containers and chill.
• Pistou and assembly:
• Pulse garlic and basil in a food processor until finely chopped. Transfer to a small bowl and stir in oil, Parmesan, and lemon zest; season with salt. Serve soup topped with pistou.

SPICY MINESTRONE WITH SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Cut sausage into pieces.
• Chop onion.
• Mince garlic.
• Dice potato and bell pepper.
• Cut zucchini in quarters lengthwise and then slice.
• Heat oil in a dutch oven over medium heat.
• Cook sausage until browned, about 10 minutes.
• Drain on paper towels, saving 1 tbs fat.
• Cook onion, garlic, potato and bell pepper in fat and cook for 5 minutes.
• Add sausage, tomatoes with their liquid, herbs, spices, pepper flakes, salt & pepper to taste and stock.
• Bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer until potato is tender, about 30 minutes.
• Stir in kidney beans with their liquid, zucchini and pasta and simmer until pasta is tender, about 20 minutes.
• Taste for seasoning and add salt & pepper if needed.
• Pass cheese with the soup and let guests help themselves.