Hearty Minestrone Soup with Fresh Arugula
Description
This satisfying minestrone features a classic combination of fresh herbs, vegetables, white beans, and pasta. Although this recipe is delicious as written, don’t be afraid to experiment with the ingredients. This dish is a great way to use up any extra fresh herbs and vegetables you have available.
Ingredients
Optional Garnish
Instructions
Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil and garlic in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sauté garlic, stirring occasionally, for 2-3 minutes or until garlic turns golden brown.
Add chopped onion, carrot, and celery and cook for another 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until vegetables are soft and tender.
Add diced tomatoes, cannellini beans, 4 cups vegetable broth, bay leaves, rosemary, thyme, oregano, and red pepper flakes to the pot and stir to combine. Add Parmesan cheese rind, if desired, and season with salt and black pepper to taste. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer for 20-25 minutes.
While the soup is simmering, cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the cooking liquid before draining the pasta. Rinse pasta and transfer to a medium bowl and toss with remaining olive oil. Cover and set aside.
Remove the cover from the pot or Dutch oven and add green beans and the reserved pasta cooking liquid. Stir to combine and continue cooking, uncovered, for another 20-25 minutes or until green beans are crisp and tender.
Add arugula and additional vegetable broth, if needed, and stir to combine. Season with additional salt and pepper, to taste. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until arugula begins to wilt.
To serve, divide cooked pasta among individual serving bowls and top with hot soup. Top with chopped parsley and freshly grated Parmesan cheese, if desired. Serve with crusty bread and/or a crisp, green side salad for a hearty meal.
Notes
- For best results, cook the pasta separately, rather than in the same pot with the rest of the ingredients. This extra step yields more consistent results by eliminating the release of excess starch into the soup. It also prevents the noodles from becoming too soft and mushy, which means more appetizing leftovers the next day and better results when freezing for future use.
Minestrone Soup, recipe, soup
