Minestrone Soup

Minestrone Soup is a hearty Italian soup that is packed full of vegetables and beans, making it both satisfying and nutritious. This classic soup is easy to make and can be customized with your favorite vegetables, making it a perfect meal for the whole family.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium white or yellow onion diced, about 1 cup
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 3 ribs celery diced, about 1 cup
• 4 medium carrots diced , about 1 cup
• 3 medium zucchini diced, about 2 cups
• 28 ounces canned diced tomatoes undrained
• 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 (15 ounce) can white cannellini beans undrained
• 1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans undrained
• 6 cups vegetable broth
• 1 tablespoon dried basil
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 8 ounces elbow noodles or large shell pasta
• 1 cup roughly chopped fresh spinach
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Parmesan cheese to garnish

Instructions

1. Heat butter and olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and let them saute for 3-5 minutes. Then add in celery, carrots, and zucchini. Cook for 8-10 minutes until the vegetables soften.
2. Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, beans and vegetable broth and herbs and bring to a boil.
3. Add in the pasta and spinach and reduce heat to a low boil for 10-12 minutes until noodles are tender. Add salt and pepper to taste and serve with a sprinkling of parmesan cheese if desired.