Spring Minestrone Soup (Printable)
A light Italian soup bursting with spring vegetables, fresh herbs, and tender pasta.
# What You'll Need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 1 tbsp olive oil
02 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
04 - 2 medium carrots, diced
05 - 1 cup asparagus, cut into 1-inch pieces
06 - 1 cup zucchini, diced
07 - 1 cup shelled fresh or frozen peas
08 - 1 cup baby spinach
→ Broth & Staples
09 - 4 cups vegetable broth
10 - 1 (14 oz) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
11 - 1 cup small pasta such as ditalini or orzo
→ Seasoning & Garnishes
12 - 1 tsp salt, plus more to taste
13 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
14 - 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
15 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
16 - 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
17 - Grated Parmigiano Reggiano, for serving (optional)
# How to Make It:
01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 3 minutes until soft and translucent.
02 - Add garlic and carrots to the pot. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until fragrant, stirring occasionally.
03 - Stir in asparagus, zucchini, and peas. Cook for another 2 minutes, stirring occasionally to combine.
04 - Pour in vegetable broth and bring to a boil. Add cannellini beans and pasta. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes until pasta and vegetables are tender.
05 - Stir in spinach, basil, and parsley. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes until the spinach is just wilted.
06 - Remove from heat. Add lemon juice and season with salt and pepper to taste.
07 - Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with grated Parmigiano Reggiano if desired. Serve immediately.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It tastes like the farmers market threw a party in your kitchen
- The whole thing comes together in under an hour with almost zero effort
02 -
- Do not overcook the pasta in the broth or you will end up with a gummy texture that no amount of lemon juice can fix
- The lemon juice must go in off the heat because boiling it turns the whole pot slightly bitter
03 -
- Cook the pasta separately and add it to individual bowls if you plan on having leftovers, since pasta sitting in broth overnight turns to mush
- Taste the broth before and after adding the lemon juice to understand exactly how much it transforms the soup