Description
Transform your holiday leftovers into a hearty, veggie-packed Minestrone Soup. This recipe brings warmth and flavor, making it the perfect lunch for a chilly winter day. It is a simple way to connect with your food and rediscover joy in the kitchen.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup leftover cooked vegetables (e.g., roasted root vegetables, steamed greens)
- 1 cup leftover cooked potatoes or beans
- 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 4 cups vegetable or chicken broth
- 1 cup water
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup small pasta (like ditalini or small shells)
- Leftover cooked meat or sausage, shredded or diced (optional)
- Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat.
- Add onion, carrots, and celery. Cook until softened, about 5 to 7 minutes.
- Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
- Add leftover cooked vegetables, potatoes or beans, diced tomatoes, broth, and water to the pot.
- Stir in Italian seasoning and basil. Bring the soup to a simmer.
- If using, add any leftover cooked meat now.
- Add the small pasta and cook according to package directions, usually 8 to 10 minutes, until tender.
- Taste the soup. Add salt and pepper as needed.
- Serve hot, topped with Parmesan cheese. Enjoy your flavorful creation!
Notes
- Feel free to use any leftover cooked greens you have on hand.
- If the soup is too thick, add a splash more broth or water until you reach your desired consistency.
- This soup tastes even better the next day.
- Experiment with different leftover vegetable combinations; the more variety, the better the flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 7g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 5mg