Hearty Minestrone Soup with Fresh Arugula
For best results, cook the pasta separately, rather than in the same pot with the rest of the ingredients. This extra step yields more consistent results by eliminating the release of excess starch into the soup. It also prevents the noodles from becoming too soft and mushy, which means more appetizing leftovers the next day and better results when freezing for future use.
Ingredients
- 3 T. extra virgin olive oil divided
- 2-3 cloves garlic finely minced
- ½ medium yellow onion finely chopped
- 3 medium carrots finely chopped
- 3 large stalks celery finely chopped
- 1 28- oz. can petite diced tomatoes undrained
- 1 15.5 oz. can cannellini beans drained and rinsed
- 4 c. organic vegetable broth*2 whole bay leaves
- 1 T. fresh rosemary leaves finely chopped (or 1 t. dried)
- 1 T. fresh thyme leaves or 1 t. dried
- 1 T. fresh oregano leaves or 1 t. dried
- ½ T. crushed red pepper flakes
- Sea salt and black pepper to taste
- Optional: 3” Parmesan cheese rind
- 2 c. Fusilli pasta
- 2 c. fresh green beans cut into ½” pieces
- 2 c. fresh arugula
- Optional Garnish:
- ¼ c. fresh parsley leaves chopped
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- * Use additional vegetable broth to reach desired consistency if needed
Instructions
- Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil and garlic in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sauté garlic, stirring occasionally, for 2-3 minutes or just until the garlic starts to turn golden brown.
- Add chopped onion, carrot, and celery and cook for another 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until vegetables are soft and tender.
- Add diced tomatoes, cannellini beans, 4 cups vegetable broth, bay leaves, rosemary, thyme, oregano, and red pepper flakes to pot and stir to combine. Add Parmesan cheese rind, if desired, and season with salt and black pepper, to taste. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer 20-25 minutes.
- While the soup is simmering, cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the cooking liquid before draining pasta. Rinse pasta and transfer to a medium bowl and toss with remaining olive oil. Cover and set aside.
- Remove the cover from the pot or Dutch oven and add green beans and the reserved pasta cooking liquid. Stir to combine and continue cooking, uncovered, another 20-25 minutes or until green beans are crisp-tender.
- Add arugula and additional vegetable broth, if needed, and stir to combine. Season with additional salt and pepper, to taste. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until arugula begins to wilt.
Notes
To serve, divide cooked pasta among individual serving bowls and top with hot soup. Top with chopped parsley and freshly grated Parmesan cheese, if desired. Serve with crusty bread and/or a crisp, green side salad for a hearty meal. Enjoy!