James Martin Minestrone Soup

This delicious and easy James Martin Minestrone Soup is a nutritious, hearty meal perfect for any day. Packed with fresh vegetables, beans, and pasta, it offers flexibility using common ingredients. A key feature is its rich, flavorful broth that warms you up, making this simple recipe both satisfying and comforting.

Ingredients Needed

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
• 3 large celery sticks, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 2 tbsp tomato purée
• 400g (14 oz) tin chopped tomatoes
• 1.2 litres/2 pints (5 cups) of vegetable or chicken stock, made from stock cubes
• 400g (14 oz) tin cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
• 100g/3½ dried spaghetti, broken into short lengths
• ¼ head green cabbage, finely shredded
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

How To Make Minestrone Soup

1. Prepare the vegetables: Heat the olive oil in a large lidded saucepan over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, carrots, and celery, season with salt and pepper, and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until the vegetables have softened.
2. Add garlic and tomato purée: Add the finely chopped garlic and fry for 1 more minute. Stir in the tomato purée and cook for another 3 minutes.
3. Add tomatoes and stock: Tip in the chopped tomatoes and stock, cover with a lid, and bring the mixture slowly to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
4. Cook beans and pasta: Add the drained cannellini beans and broken spaghetti, then cook for another 10 minutes, or until the pasta is tender.
5. Add cabbage: Stir in the finely shredded cabbage and cook for an additional 2 minutes. If the soup is too thick, add hot water to reach your preferred consistency.
6. Final seasoning: Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper before serving.

Recipe Tips

• Chop vegetables evenly: Cutting the carrots, celery, and onion into similar-sized pieces ensures they cook evenly and the soup has a consistent texture.
• Don’t skip the tomato purée: Cooking it for a few minutes enhances the flavor and adds richness to the soup base.
• Break spaghetti carefully: Break the spaghetti into short pieces before adding it to avoid clumps. Use fusilli or small pasta as an alternative.
• Add cabbage last: Adding the cabbage just before serving keeps it tender and preserves its fresh taste and texture.

How To Store And Reheat Leftovers?

• Refrigerate: Let the leftover Minestrone Soup cool to room temperature. Transfer it to an airtight container and store it in the fridge for 3 days.
• Freeze: Once cooled, pour the soup into freezer-safe containers or bags. Freeze for up to 3 months. To thaw, place it in the fridge overnight before reheating.
• Reheat: Pour the soup into a pot and heat over medium heat for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it’s hot all through. Add a splash of water if it’s too thick.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 cup (about 250g)

• Calories: 200
• Total Fat: 5g
• Saturated Fat: 1g
• Cholesterol: 2mg
• Sodium: 98mg
• Potassium: 627mg
• Total Carbohydrate: 30g
• Dietary Fiber: 11g
• Sugars: 5g
• Protein: 11g

Try More James Martin Recipes:

• James Martin Sourdough Bread Recipe
• James Martin Onion Gravy
• James Martin Garlic Soup
• James Martin Peppercorn Sauce