EASY VEGETARIAN MINESTRONE

As we move from colder weather to warmer days, a good soup like Minestrone is a must. This hearty, vegetable-filled soup is warm and soothing, but light enough to not make you feel weighed down as you’re out enjoying these beautiful days. Plus, this Vegetarian Minestrone ticks all of my Budget Bytes boxes: easy, inexpensive, flexible, and meal prep friendly!

ISN’T ALL MINESTRONE SOUP VEGETARIAN?

There are a LOT of interpretations of Minestrone out there, but they often include a Parmesan rind to infuse more umami flavor into the broth. Parmesan is one of the few cheeses that is not considered vegetarian because it contains animal rennet. And since I didn’t have a Parmesan rind on hand, this particular recipe is a vegetarian minestrone. But by all means, if you have a Parmesan rind on hand and aren’t concerned about keeping the soup vegetarian, add it to the soup before it simmers! You won’t be disappointed.

Some people also add a little bit of meat to their Minestrone. Pancetta or bacon are great options (brown in the pot before adding the vegetables) for adding a touch more flavor.

WHERE’S THE PASTA??

Minestrone soup often has some sort of pasta or grain to make the soup extra hearty. Since pasta can get mushy when it swims around in soup for too long, I decided to avoid that issue and just sub some extra beans (chickpeas) to add that extra heartiness without having to deal with soggy pasta.

If you want to add some pasta to your minestrone, just choose any small shaped pasta like ditalini, small shells, or orzo. Add about 1 cup of the uncooked pasta and an extra 2 cups of water to the soup, then boil until the pasta is tender.

WHAT OTHER VEGETABLES CAN I ADD TO MINESTRONE?

My favorite thing about Minestrone is that it is SUPER flexible. If you don’t like one or more of the vegetables in my recipe below, feel free to use one of these instead:

• Celery
• Sweet Potato
• Russet Potato
• Fennel
• Turnips
• Kale
• Spinach
• Butternut Squash
• Peas

VEGETARIAN MINESTRONE

This easy Vegetarian Minestrone Soup is hearty, chock full of vegetables, budget friendly, meal prep ready, and super flexible! 

Total Cost: $5.96 recipe / $0.99 serving

Author: Beth – Budget Bytes

 Prep Time: 10 mins

 Cook Time: 35 mins

 Total Time: 45 mins

Servings:  about 1.5 cups each

INGREDIENTS

• 1 yellow onion ($0.32)
• 2 cloves garlic ($0.16)
• 4 carrots ($0.32)
• 2 Tbsp olive oil ($0.32)
• 2 Tbsp tomato paste ($0.10)
• 1 28oz. can diced tomatoes ($1.00)
• 1 15oz. can kidney beans ($0.75)
• 1 15oz. can chickpeas ($1.00)
• 1 Tbsp Italian seasoning ($0.30)
• 4 cups vegetable broth ($0.52)
• 1 zucchini (about 1/2 lb.) ($0.71)
• 1 cup frozen green beans ($0.30)
• 1 Tbsp lemon juice ($0.06)
• 1 Tbsp chopped parsley (optional) ($0.10)

INSTRUCTIONS

• Dice the onion, mince the garlic, and slice the carrots. Add the olive oil, onion, garlic, and carrots to a large soup pot. Sauté over medium heat until the onions become soft and translucent (about 5 minutes).
• Add the tomato paste to the pot and continue to sauté for 2-3 minutes more, or until the tomato paste begins to coat the bottom of the pot (do not let it burn).
• Rinse and drain the kidney beans and chickpeas, and then add them to the pot along with the diced tomatoes (with juices), Italian Seasoning, and vegetable broth. Give everything a good stir, place a lid on top, and allow it to come up to a simmer. Allow the soup to simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• While the soup is simmering, slice the zucchini into quarter-rounds. After the soup has simmered for 20 minutes, add the sliced zucchini and frozen green beans (no need to thaw first). Stir and simmer the soup for an additional 5-10 minutes, or until the zucchini just begin to soften.
• Finish the soup by adding lemon juice and chopped parsley. Give it a taste and add extra salt if needed (my soup did not need any extra salt, but it may depending on the type of broth used). Serve hot with crusty bread for dipping!