Italian Minestrone: A Hearty Vegetable Soup Perfect for All Seasons

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Minestrone is a classic Italian vegetable soup that is both hearty and versatile, ideal for any time of the year. Packed with a variety of fresh vegetables, beans, pasta, and sometimes meat, this soup is nutritious, filling, and can be easily customized to suit your taste or whatever vegetables you have on hand. Here’s a recipe to make this delicious, comforting meal at home.

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large onion, diced
• 2 carrots, diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 zucchini, diced
• 1 yellow squash, diced
• 1 cup green beans, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
• 1 can (15 oz) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
• 4 cups vegetable or chicken broth
• 1 cup water
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 cup small pasta (such as ditalini or elbow macaroni)
• 2 cups fresh spinach, chopped
• Grated Parmesan cheese for serving (optional)

Instructions:

1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the diced onion, carrots, and celery. Cook, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are soft, about 8 minutes.
2. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 1-2 minutes, until fragrant.
3. Stir in the zucchini, yellow squash, and green beans. Cook for another 5 minutes, until the vegetables begin to soften.
4. Pour in the diced tomatoes (with their juices), cannellini beans, broth, and water. Add the oregano and basil. Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil.
5. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer. Let the soup cook for about 20 minutes, until all the vegetables are tender.
6. While the soup is simmering, cook the pasta separately according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside.
7. In the last 5 minutes of cooking, add the chopped spinach to the soup. Stir until the spinach is wilted.
8. Season the soup with salt and pepper to taste.
9. To serve, place a handful of cooked pasta in the bottom of each bowl and ladle the hot soup over the top. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese if desired.

Enjoy your homemade minestrone soup as a cozy, delicious meal that’s perfect for lunch or dinner any day of the week!```