This is a hearty soup that if served with homemade breadsticks can make a nice dinner on its own. We tend to add a can of cannellini beans to the high protein portion, but the soup is hearty enough for everyone without it (If you choose to add them, put them in at the same time as the cauliflower). We make a big batch, setting aside a few individual portions to freeze before adding the pasta for an easy lunch midweek. The pasta really absorbs a lot of the broth so if it gets too thick, add more broth to the soup.
Minestrone Soup
This is a hearty soup that if served with homemade breadsticks can make a nice dinner on its own. We tend to add a can of cannellini beans to the high protein portion, but the soup is hearty enough for everyone without it (If you choose to add them, put them in at the same time as the cauliflower). We make a big batch, setting aside a few individual portions to freeze before adding the pasta for an easy lunch midweek. The pasta really absorbs a lot of the broth so if it gets too thick, add more broth to the soup.
Nutrition
Ingredients
Method
- Add the oil to a large pot. Add onions, carrots and celery. Cook for about 5 minutes. Add drained tomatoes and salt, cooking for 5 more minutes. Add red pepper flakes and garlic. Cook for 1 minute. Add broth and tomato juice and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer, uncovered and stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender but still hold their shape, about 25 to 30 minutes. Add in cauliflower and zucchini, simmer for 5 more minutes. (Soup can be refrigerated in airtight container for 3 days or frozen for 1 month at this point. Defrost if necessary and reheat before proceeding with recipe.)
- Add pasta and chard. Cook until tender, about 10 minutes. The pasta will absorb a lot of the broth, so if soup seems too thick after the pasta cooks, stir in a additional vegetable broth (we tend to add about ¼ cup (60 gm)). Remove pot from heat. Remove bay leaf, discard. Adjust seasonings, adding pepper and more salt, if necessary. Ladle soup into bowls and top with a little of the fresh pesto and serve immediately.
Notes
The phe and calorie count per serving includes the addition of 10 gm of low protein pasta. The totals per recipe do not since I am not sure how many low protein and high protein servings you are making.
