Minestrone soup is a hearty version of vegetable soup with all the goodness from the vegetables plus yummy whole wheat pasta. It’s simple to make, healthy and oh so tasty.
I used hot sausage in my recipe because all my ground beef was frozen. Oh it adds such a delicious flavor. You can use lean ground beef for a low fat option or sausage in your soup. If I use ground beef, I’ll stir in a tablespoon of bacon grease for flavor. You can use whatever vegetables you have on hand for this soup too. I didn’t have celery in this pot of soup but if I have some next time I’ll sauté it when I add my onions. You could add diced potatoes, cabbage, spinach, kale, etc.
Our friend & horseman, Craig Cameron, hauled his horse over to the TY Ranch to go for a ride with Ty. We were going to go to town for lunch but my little girl, Oakley, was getting ready to take a nap. A cranky baby is no fun to take to a restaurant ha ha! I needed something I could fix in 45 minutes or less and that’s how I came up with this recipe. It was a chilly day and tasted perfect. 15 minutes before the cowboys arrived for lunch, I popped my Whole Wheat Rosemary Drop Biscuits in the oven and we enjoyed the most delicious lunch!
Minestrone Soup
Course: SoupsCuisine: ItalianDifficulty: Easy8
servings5
minutes40
minutesIngredients
1 lb Jimmy Dean hot sausage or lean ground beef
1 onion, diced
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 bag frozen mixed vegetables
1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes (with or without basil)
1 can kidney beans, drained
6-8 cups water
2 teaspoons of salt
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
2 tablespoons dried parsley or 1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley.
2 cups whole wheat pasta (elbow or rotini)
- Topping
Fresh, grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
- In a large soup pot over medium high heat, brown sausage or beef until almost done.
- Add onion and cook until soft, about 5 minutes.
- Add garlic and cook, stirring, one minute longer.
- Add the rest of the ingredients, except the pasta, and bring to a boil.
- Stir in pasta, reduce heat to a low simmer, and cover. Cook for at least 30 minutes but it can simmer longer.
Can’t wait to make this!!