Description
Mediterranean pasta soup celebrates regional flavors with hearty ingredients. Fresh herbs and seasonal vegetables combine for a comforting meal you’ll savor with each delightful spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups (1 liter) vegetable or chicken broth
- 1 can (14 oz/400 g) diced tomatoes
- ½ cup (90 g) small pasta (ditalini, macaroni, or orzo)
- 1 cup (150 g) cooked beans (cannellini, chickpeas, or kidney beans)
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 carrot, diced
- 1 celery stalk, diced
- 1 cup (30 g) fresh spinach or kale (optional)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning (mix of basil, oregano, and thyme)
- ½ tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp lemon juice (for brightness)
- Fresh parsley or parmesan cheese (for garnish)
Instructions
- Aromatic Foundation: In a generously sized pot, heat olive oil over medium flame. Introduce chopped onions, minced garlic, diced carrots, and sliced celery. Sauté the vegetables until they become translucent and develop a tender texture, releasing their aromatic essence.
- Liquid Base Construction: Incorporate crushed tomatoes and vegetable broth into the softened vegetables. Sprinkle Italian seasoning, salt, and ground pepper. Elevate the heat to trigger a vigorous boil, creating a robust and flavorful liquid foundation.
- Protein and Pasta Integration: Reduce the heat to a gentle simmer and add kidney beans and pasta. Allow the ingredients to meld together, stirring periodically. Cook until the pasta reaches a perfect al dente texture and the beans are thoroughly heated.
- Verdant Finale: Fold in fresh leafy greens such as spinach or kale, letting them delicately wilt and integrate into the soup’s vibrant landscape. Remove from heat and enhance with a bright splash of lemon juice. Garnish with fresh parsley or a sprinkle of grated parmesan cheese.
- Serving Presentation: Ladle the steaming soup into waiting bowls, ensuring each serving captures the harmonious blend of flavors and textures. Serve immediately to preserve the soup’s optimal temperature and culinary integrity.
Notes
- Choose Fresh Ingredients: Select crisp vegetables and high-quality pasta for the most vibrant flavor and optimal texture in your soup.
- Control Pasta Cooking: Add pasta later in the cooking process to prevent overcooking and maintain the perfect al dente consistency, which prevents mushy texture.
- Adjust Liquid Levels: Keep extra vegetable broth nearby to adjust soup thickness if needed, ensuring the ideal balance between broth and ingredients.
- Customize Dietary Needs: Easily swap ingredients for gluten-free pasta, replace kidney beans with alternative proteins like chickpeas, or use vegan cheese for plant-based variations.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg