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Photo Credit: Elizabeth Newman

Winter Minestrone

15 MINPrep Time
40 MINCook Time
6Servings
(6)
by Giada De Laurentiis
Beginner
Photo Credit: Elizabeth Newman
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Minestrone is a beloved Italian soup, and one of the most recognizable ones in the US. It's a thick, hearty stew with vegetables, and often with pasta or rice. In my version, I opt for heartiness from potatoes and cannellini beans! The step of blending up some of the beans with broth gives the soup a delicious, velvety texture.

There are a few secrets to amazing flavor in this soup. A bit of pancetta at the beginning imparts a ton of great savory flavor to the entire dish. Additionally, the Parmigiano rind is essential! It gives the soup an irresistible umami element.

I love to serve this with rustic, crusty bread to sop up the tasty broth. Overall, it's an extremely comforting and nourishing dish with wonderful flavor.
Winter Minestrone
star

Winter Minestrone

Category

Main Course Soup

Prep Time

15 minutes

Cook Time

40 minutes

Image of Winter Minestrone

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Heat the oil in a heavy large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, celery, pancetta, and garlic. Saute until the onion is translucent, about 10 minutes. Add the Swiss chard and potato, saute for 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and rosemary sprig. Simmer until the chard is wilted and the tomatoes break down, about 10 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, blend 3/4 cup of the beans with 1/4 cup of the broth in a processor until almost smooth. Add the pureed bean mixture, remaining broth, and Parmesan cheese rind to the vegetable mixture. Simmer until the potato pieces are tender, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes. Stir in the whole beans and parsley. Simmer until the beans are heated through and the soup is thick, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Discard Parmesan rind and rosemary sprig (the leaves will have fallen off of the stem.)
  3. Ladle the soup into bowls and serve.

Nutrition

Nutrition

per serving
Calories
261
Amount/Serving % Daily Value
Carbs
31 grams
Protein
12 grams
Fat
11 grams
Saturated Fat
3 grams
Cholesterol
9 milligrams
Sodium
863 milligrams
Fiber
7 grams
Sugar
5 grams
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gluten free
nut free

9 comments

  • Author's avatar image
    Sicily - Oct 31
    ★★★★★
    ★★★★★

    It’s a heart warming soup for a cold day + Giada’s grill cheese. Mmmm! 😋😋😋

  • Author's avatar image
    Michelle - Jan 24
    ★★★★★
    ★★★★★

    Made this and the family loved it!! Will definitely make it again. So easy.

  • Author's avatar image
    Michelle - Jan 24
    ★★★★★
    ★★★★★

    Made this and the family loved it!! Will definitely make it again. So easy.

  • Author's avatar image
    Joey - Oct 26
    ★★★★★
    ★★★★★

    Followed the recipe as written with the exception of substituting the Swiss chard with spinach and increasing the beef broth by 16 oz. What we liked about it most was that it was packed with so much flavor we never felt the need to add any salt. This was a fool proof recipe and will stay in our rotation of soups and stews. Thank you Giada

  • Author's avatar image
    Shannon Palmer - Apr 06

    I made this. Absolutely brilliant!! Highly recommend

  • Author's avatar image
    Kerry Parkinson - Jan 17

    Made this soup and it is absolutely stellar! Satisfying and only 3 points in weight watchers! Another winner, Giada!

  • Author's avatar image
    mindy Smith - Jun 09
    ★★★★★
    ★★★★★

    Delicious!!! I love the combination of flavors in this soup!! The rosemary and pancetta are outstanding. I used twice as much broth because I prefer my soups to be a bit thinner. I also used pasta rather than beans because my husband is not a bean fan. I used chicken broth because I had it on hand. Turned out fantastic – my husband had three servings and loved it!! 5 stars!!

  • Author's avatar image
    Shell Pullen - Jun 09
    ★★★★★
    ★★★★★

    This was a delicious soup. I just substituted beef broth for vegetable broth. Delicious! Worth trying on a cold day!

  • Author's avatar image
    Mary Elizabeth Guyton - Jun 09

    Thank you Giadzy! 😍 This is now the main meal for tomorrow ! I just ❤️ Giadzy😊

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