Description
Hearty minestrone with sausage brings Italian countryside comfort to winter dining tables. Packed with vegetables, beans, and savory sausage, this soup delivers robust flavors you’ll crave on chilly evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 lb (450g) Italian sausage (mild or spicy, casings removed)
Vegetables:
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 zucchini, diced
- 1 cup green beans, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
- 2 cups fresh spinach or kale, chopped
Other Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 can (14.5 ounces, 411 grams) diced tomatoes
- 6 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 can (15 ounces, 425 grams) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup small pasta (e.g., ditalini or elbow)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese (for serving)
- Fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Render the sausage in a spacious pot over medium warmth, fragmenting it into delicate morsels until golden and thoroughly cooked. Extract the sausage using a perforated utensil and reserve.
- Utilize the identical pot to caramelize onions, carrots, and celery, sautéing until they transform soft and translucent. Introduce minced garlic and allow it to release its aromatic essence briefly.
- Incorporate zucchini, green beans, and diced tomatoes into the vegetable mixture. Pour in broth, seasoning with oregano, basil, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Elevate the liquid to a vigorous boil.
- Diminish the heat, permitting the soup to gently simmer, melding the robust flavors for approximately 10 minutes.
- Introduce pasta and cannellini beans, continuing to cook until the pasta reaches an al dente consistency, roughly 8 minutes.
- Reintegrate the previously cooked sausage and fold in fresh spinach or kale. Allow the greens to wilt and harmonize with the soup’s profile.
- Transfer the aromatic minestrone into serving vessels. Optionally, garnish with freshly grated Parmesan and chopped parsley. Accompany with a rustic bread slice for a complete dining experience.
Notes
- Sausage Selection Matters: Choose high-quality Italian sausage for deeper flavor, and consider lean varieties to reduce overall fat content.
- Vegetable Prep Technique: Chop vegetables uniformly to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the soup.
- Bean Boost: Rinse canned cannellini beans thoroughly to reduce sodium and remove excess starch, enhancing the soup’s clean taste.
- Gluten-Free Adaptation: Substitute traditional pasta with gluten-free alternatives like quinoa or rice pasta without compromising the dish’s hearty character.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 750 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg