Winter Minestrone Soup (Printer-Friendly)

A nourishing Italian-style soup with butternut squash, kale, and vegetables. Ready in 60 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
02 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
03 - 2 carrots, sliced
04 - 2 celery stalks, sliced
05 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
06 - 3 cups butternut squash, peeled and cubed
07 - 1 medium zucchini, diced
08 - 1 can (14 ounces) diced tomatoes
09 - 4 cups kale, stems removed and leaves chopped

→ Legumes & Grains

10 - 1 can (15 ounces) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
11 - 1 cup small pasta (ditalini or elbow macaroni)

→ Liquids & Seasonings

12 - 6 cups vegetable broth
13 - 1 bay leaf
14 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
15 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
16 - 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
17 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Optional Garnishes

18 - Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
19 - Chopped fresh parsley
20 - Crusty bread for serving

# How To Make:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery, sautéing for 5 minutes until softened.
02 - Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add butternut squash and zucchini to the pot. Cook for another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
04 - Pour in diced tomatoes, vegetable broth, bay leaf, oregano, thyme, and rosemary. Bring to a boil.
05 - Reduce heat to low, cover the pot, and cook for 15 minutes until the squash is just tender.
06 - Add cannellini beans, pasta, and kale. Simmer uncovered for 10 to 12 minutes until pasta is cooked and kale is wilted.
07 - Remove bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
08 - Ladle into bowls and top with Parmesan and parsley if desired. Serve with crusty bread.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The butternut squash becomes melt in your mouth tender while holding its shape beautifully
  • Everything cooks in one pot which means less cleanup and more time enjoying the warmth
  • This soup actually tastes better the next day making it perfect for meal prep
02 -
  • The pasta will continue absorbing liquid as it sits so you may need to add more broth when reheating leftovers
  • Adding a Parmesan rind during simmering transforms the broth into something extraordinarily rich and savory
03 -
  • Cut your vegetables into similar sized pieces so every spoonful has the same balance of flavors
  • Taste your broth before adding salt since different brands vary dramatically in sodium content
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