Minestrone Soup

Method

Tap a step to highlight it, or turn on Cook Mode for large type and step-by-step focus.

1. Warm the olive oil in a large pot and sweat the onion, carrot and celery over low heat for 12 to 15 minutes until completely soft and sweet. This soffritto is the flavour base — rushing it costs you the whole dish.

   Mark done Start 12 min timer

2. Add the garlic and tomato purée and cook for 2 minutes until the purée darkens to brick red.

   Mark done Start 2 min timer

3. Add the crushed tomatoes, stock, salt and the Parmesan rind if using. Bring to a simmer.

   Mark done

4. Add the potatoes and cook for 10 minutes, then the green beans and courgette for a further 8.

   Mark done Start 10 min timer

5. Mash a quarter of the cannellini beans with a fork and stir them in along with the whole ones.

   Mark done

6. Add the pasta and cook for the time on the packet, adding the cavolo nero for the last 4 minutes.

   Mark done

7. Remove the rind, stir through the basil, and rest off the heat for 10 minutes before serving with a hard drizzle of good olive oil.

   Mark done Start 10 min timer

Chef’s Tips

• Save your Parmesan rinds in the freezer. Each one adds a savoury depth that stock alone cannot.
• Cook the pasta separately if you plan on leftovers, or it will swell and drink the broth overnight.
• Swap in whatever is seasonal — this soup was invented to use up the garden.

Common Substitutions & Variations

• An eighth of a teaspoon of garlic powder per clove is the usual stand-in when you are out of fresh garlic — it will not caramelise the same way, but it carries the flavour.

Pairing Suggestions

• A light Verdicchio or simply water
• Grilled sourdough rubbed with garlic
• Fresh fruit and a wedge of Pecorino

Storage & Reheating

Refrigerate 4 days, freeze 3 months without the pasta. Thin with a splash of stock when reheating, as the beans continue to thicken it.

Common questions

Nutritional Highlights

Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.