Filled with veggies, chickpea pasta, lots of flavor, and a savory broth- this might be the best minestrone you will ever taste! The perfect cozy meal for chilly nights.
I LOVE soup season. Actually that is a lie. I hate the cold. Wish it could be warm year round. All seasons are soup season for me because I will eat it any time. But I do LOVE soup so I am glad when I get the chance to eat it without people looking at me weird. And it has been cold and rainy here in Atlanta lately so this is the perfect time to make a big batch of this warm and cozy soup!
I also have always loved minestrone. I love all the veggies and the noodles and the warm broth. Here I decided to make it extra healthy by adding in even more veggies, using gluten free chickpea pasta which is higher in protein and fiber than regular wheat pasta, and it is just as delicious if not more!
Once you try this and are in the mood for some more cozy soups be sure to check out my fall flavors soup (also love that all year round), my creamy lasagna soup, and if you dig the chickpea pasta be sure to check out my chickpea pasta chicken noodle soup for a fun spin on our traditional fave!
Let’s Make the BEST Minestrone!
The fun part about this recipe is that you can make it your own. That is what we did! We added zucchini which isn’t in traditional minestrone, as well as cannelini beans, and we used Banza chickpea pasta!
I love chickpea pasta because it has a lot more protein and fiber, and therefore less net carbs, than traditional wheat pasta. While I don’t discriminate against traditional pasta anymore like I used to when I really struggled with my eating disorder, I do like to have this as a healthier option!
And Banza has so many fun shapes. We chose the casarecce because it is the perfect “slurp” noodle! the broth really gets in there and it is so yummy 🙂
So my only suggestions if you add other veggies is know when to add them – if they are “crunchier” veggies that need to be softened, add them when you add your celery and carrots. If they are already pretty soft you can add them later with your beans!
My last suggestion on this, if you are not vegan, is to try it with a bone broth for added benefits too! (I like Bonafide Provisions).
In addition to the listed ingredients, you will need:
- a large pot (we used our dutch oven)
- a big ladle/spoon to stir everything with as you go
Enjoy your cozy meal!
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The BEST Minestrone
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 4+ servings 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Gluten Free, Vegan, Refined Sugar Free
Filled with veggies, gluten free pasta, lots of flavor, and a warm cozy broth- this is the BEST minestrone you will ever taste! The perfect cozy meal for chilly nights.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 2 stalks of celery, chopped
- 3 large carrots, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil or Italian seasoning
- 1 small zucchini, diced
- 1 28oz can crushed tomatoes
- 1 14oz can diced tomatoes
- 6 cups of vegetable broth
- 1 15oz can dark red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 15 oz can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
- 8oz chickpea pasta (I used casarecce but macaroni or shells work, too)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add the olive oil to a large pot or dutch oven and heat over medium heat for 30 seconds.
- Add the onion, celery, and carrot and saute for about 8-10 minutes or until the vegetables have softened slightly.
- Add the garlic and cook for about another minute.
- Add the zucchini, oregano, basil, tomatoes, beans, and broth, bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and let simmer for 10 minutes.
- Add the pasta and cook until the noodles are soft, about 7 more minutes.
Notes
For extra protein and benefits you could use bone broth instead of veggie broth (not a vegan option though)
You can use any pasta you want in this, we just love Banza and this shape is perfect for slurping up broths!
You can also add/omit any veggies as you and your family like
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
If you try this recipe please leave a comment below letting me know what you think! If you remake on Instagram don’t forget to tag me at @donutworry_behealthy so I can see your creation and share in my stories!
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