Minestrone

Name: Minestrone
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 65 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Italy
Ingredients: 2 tbsp olive oil; 1 onion, 2 carrots, 2 celery stalks, diced; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 1 zucchini, diced; 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes; 6 cups vegetable stock; 1 (15 oz) can cannellini beans, drained; 1 cup small pasta (ditalini); 2 cups chopped kale or cabbage; 1 parmesan rind (optional); Grated Parmesan, for serving

6 servings20 min prep45 min cookEasy Italy

♡ Sign in to save Print / Save as PDFPro

The Story Behind It

The Tale of Minestrone

Story updated September 17, 2026

Minestrone, Italy's classic vegetable soup, has roots reaching back to Roman times and, true to its name (simply 'big soup'), was never built from one fixed recipe. It has always been shaped by whatever vegetables were in season and on hand, making it as much a method as a dish.

Ingredients

Scale:· 6 servings

2 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, 2 carrots, 2 celery stalks, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 zucchini, diced
1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
6 cups vegetable stock
1 (15 oz) can cannellini beans, drained
1 cup small pasta (ditalini)
2 cups chopped kale or cabbage
1 parmesan rind (optional)
Grated Parmesan, for serving

Instructions

1Sauté onion, carrot, and celery in olive oil until softened.
2Add garlic and zucchini and cook 2 minutes.
3Stir in crushed tomatoes, stock, and parmesan rind if using, and bring to a simmer.
4Add beans and simmer 15 minutes.
5Stir in pasta and kale, cooking until pasta is al dente.
6Discard parmesan rind, season to taste, and serve topped with grated Parmesan.

Want Cook Mode, your own recipe photos, and unlimited calculators?

Get Home Cooking Pro

Comments

Loading comments…