Minestrone soup has always been my absolute favourite. I even used to like those horrible ones that came in a tin when I was a student.
The first time I made my own minestrone was after my first baby was born and I was trying to lose my baby weight. I read somewhere that if you ate a good bowl of this soup before going out it will fill you up and you’d be less likely to eat anything else.
Pretty dumb advice, but all the same, I LOVED it and after eating it for at least one meal every day, I did eventually lose that weight. Thank you soup!!
These days I’ve given up on all the weight loss hoo haa and just enjoy the soup for what it is – a healthy, easy to whip up and delicious mid week dinner. It’s especially perfect for chilly autumn days like today.
Luckily my kids love it too and I very rarely have complaints when I make it. It does has to have the bacon in it though, otherwise my Hollie says “It doesn’t taste as good mum!”
Here’s the recipe.
- 1 onion
- ½ leek
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tbs olive oil
- 400g vegetables (I used carrot, celery, sweet potato and zucchini) chopped into thumb nail sized squares.
- 500g vegetable stock (or water plus 1.5 tbsp vegetable stock paste)
- 1 tin chopped tomatoes
- 50g tomato paste
- A pinch of sugar
- 55g dried pasta
- 1 tin cannelloni beans
- salt and pepper to taste
- OPTIONAL
- parmasan cheese to serve
- 4 rashes of bacon - cooked and chopped
- Add the onion, garlic and leek to the TM bowl and chop for 5 seconds on speed 5.
- Add the olive oil and cook for 3 minutes at 100 degrees, speed 1.
- Add the chopped veggies ( I chop mine by hand because I like them in little squares). If you'd prefer the Thermomix to do the work, chop for 6-10 seconds on speed 3-4, depending on how chunky you like them.
- Add the tinned tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar and water/stock and cook for 12 minutes at 100 degrees on reverse speed 2.
- Add the bacon (optional), pasta and cannelloni beans and cook for a further 10 minutes at 100 degrees on reverse speed 2.
- Serve immediately with crusty bread and sprinkle of chopped herbs and parmesan cheese.
- ENJOY
I’m a bit OCD with the veggies and like them in little squares – hence the chopping them by hand. You could actually more than halve the prep time on this if you just used your Thermomix to do the chopping!
If you love this one them why not try my delicious cauliflower cheese soup.
We’ve tried this and it is delicious! Even nicer if you add more bacon pieces or chorizo!
Mad this earlier this evening in prep for tomorrow nights dinner and it tastes amazing! I included the bacon and everything suggested plus added basil. Thanks for the recipe!
Amazing. So tasty!
Can’t wait to try this recipe! Looks delicious. Thank you!
This is so easy and delicious!
I used carrot, zuchinni, pumpkin and celery as my veggies
Also used Pre-cooked bacon (only lightly cooked).
Best minestrone I’ve ever tasted!
Looks delicious!!! Will definitely have to try it!
Absolutely magnificent soup. Definitely added the bacon. So yummy and easy. Will be making quite a lot. My 3 young girls loved it.
Woooow, look amazing. Can’t wait to try this!
I made this recipe tonight, absolutely delicious.
Thank you
So delicious 😋 Extra vegies used- potato, pumpkin, green beans. I also added cumin and chilli powder and fresh herbs- parsley, thyme and oregano all to taste.
This has become a staple in my house, thank you!
Yum mate!! I’m not normally a fan of minestrone soup, I find them bland, but I hurt my jaw and was limited to soups so decided to give this one a crack… This one was so good!!
I used carrot, zucchini, sweet potato, celery and capsicum as my veges and added cooked bacon and mushroom in the last 10 mins.
I left out the pasta (ran out of room in the tm bowl) and added a variety of dried herbs and a pinch of chilli powder.
This is an absolute winner!! Thanks for sharing xx