The Best Minestrone Soup
If all were right in the world, there would be as many recipes for minestrone—the Italian soup of simmered mixed vegetables and beans—as there have been individual pots of it cooked.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 4 cups vegetable broth or chicken broth
- 1 can diced tomatoes with juice
- 1 can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup small pasta shells or macaroni noodles
- 2 cups fresh spinach leaves, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
For the Beans: In a medium bowl, cover beans with cold water by several inches and stir in 1 tablespoon salt. Let beans soak at least 12 hours and up to a day. Drain and rinse.