Italian Minestrone Soup Recipe (2024)

This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy.

Truly the best Italian minestrone soup with fennel / “finocchio” and fregola pasta in a homemade tomato based broth from scratch. In essence: a super delicious wintery 1-pot thick vegetable and pasta soup that is also vegan and good for you!

Jump to Recipe

Authentic Italian Minestrone Soup

This easy classic Italian soup captures all the sweet fragrant flavors of Italian fennel sausage but without any of the meat, saturated fat and cholesterol. It’s vegan, meatless, dairy free (pure vegetarian recipe) and filled with nutrients. Usually served as primo piatto (between starter and main course), I personally love my Minestra to be the main course enjoyedribollita style: with torn pieces of extra garlicky bruschetta floating on top.

The soup is brimming with savory flavor and pure comfort from simple, healthy and nutritious ingredients. It can easily be made whole food plant based compliant by simply sautéing in water instead of olive oil and making sure your pasta is made from whole grains or swapped entirely with a whole grain like barley or farro.

About the Fennel (aka Finocchio)

Choose a firm white bulb without blemishes or many signs of browning. You’ll want to use both a fresh bulb and some dry seeds. Fresh Florence fennel is a sweet bulbous winter vegetable from the carrot family with a very mild and unique anise flavor. (Contrary to popular belief it does not taste like a licorice stick so please don’t let that hold you back from making this soup).

The fennel seeds are also sweet but with a more intense anise flavor profile that holds up well to slow cooking in soups and stews. I also like to use the frilly fennel fronds as an herb for garnish, they look a lot like fresh dill but very different in flavor. Although the stalks are edible and flavorful they could be quite fibrous just like celery, make sure to finely chop them if you decide to use them here, I always do.

Pasta for Minestrone

Traditionally different small shape pasta aka “pastinas” are best to cook in broth. Orzo, stelline, anellini, lumachine, ditalini rigati, farfalline, grattini, even mini gnocchi and tortellini. Just pick a favorite! For me it has to be fregola di sardaakaItalian couscous, the little toasted pearl pasta you usually see in Italian wedding soup. It’s my go to for a hearty pot of Pasta e Ceci,there really isn’t a pasta shape more fun to eat in broth in my humble opinion.

The pasta is meant to be cooked straight into the soup to absorb the flavors and also help naturally thicken the broth. If for whatever reason you decide to cook your pasta separately, make sure to cook it in plenty of salted water. All things considered, there’s something to be said about both the depth of flavor and texture of pasta cooked in broth, and the marriage of flavors that takes place during this process.

Recipe Tips

  • Gluten Free – The fregola can be swapped for gluten free pasta of your choosing or replaced with diced potatoes, lentils and even butternut squash.
  • Grains vs Pasta – For an even healthier adaptation of this recipe you can swap the pasta with a whole grain. Barley and farro are classic ingredients found in Italian minestrone soup but wheat berries, wild rice and even quinoa could be used instead.
  • Add Ins – For an even thicker soup you can add in some shredded savoy cabbage and a can of cannellini beans. A handful of chopped Italian kale (Kavalo Nero) or baby spinach wilted at the last minute will add a nice boost of micronutrients to the meal. Any freezer vegetables that need using up could go in here: broccoli, asparagus, green peas, green beans, mushrooms and even cauliflower.
  • Storage – This is one of those Italian soups that taste even better the next day as all the flavors get to marry overnight. It keeps well in the fridge up to 5 days and can be frozen for a rainy day if desired.

Serving suggestions…

  • Bruschetta
  • Spelt Bread
  • Drizzled with Basil Pesto
  • Italian Focaccia Bread
  • Garlic Knots
  • Italian Crusty Bread

how to make vegan Italian minestrone soup

Italian Minestrone Soup Recipe (6)

5 from 2 votes

Italian Minestrone Soup

Best Italian minestrone soup with fennel / "finocchio" and fregola pasta in a homemade tomato based broth from scratch. In essence: a super delicious thick vegetable and pasta soup that is vegan and good for you!

Print Recipe

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat a heavy bottom soup pot over medium heat and sautee the onion in a light drizzle of olive oil (or water for WFPB compliance) until translucent and starts to get a little color. Add a pinch of salt and chili flakes and give everything a good stir.

    1 onion, 1 pinch red chili flakes or to taste

  • Stir in the grated carrot, diced bell pepper and sliced fennel. Toss to combine with the onion and cook a few more minutes on medium high heat until the veggies start getting a little color.

    1 carrot, 1 bell pepper, 1 small fennel bulb

  • Push the veggie mixture to the sides. Drizzle a little olive oil in the center of the pot and add the garlic, capers and fennel seeds. Cook until fragrant taking care not to let the garlic burn. Stir well.

    2 Tbsp capers, 4 cloves garlic, 1 Tbsp fennel seeds

  • Add the diced tomatoes, bay leaves, rosemary and water. Bring to a simmer and cover with a lid. Cook the soup on medium low heat for 25 minutes to concentrate the flavor.

    2 bay leaves, 1 sprig rosemary, 28 oz can diced tomatoes, 8 cups water

  • After 25 minutes have passed taste the soup and season it with a generous pinch of salt. Add the fregola couscous or whatever small shape pasta you are using.

    1 cup small shape pasta

  • Cook until the pasta is al dente. Usually fregola takes between 15 and 17 minutes to cook but other small shape pastas are done in half that time, so it’s important to follow the cooking times on the package. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.

    S + P to taste

  • Stir in the fresh parsley and serve with homemade crusty bread or garlic bruschetta.

    1/2 cup Italian parsley

Notes

  • The Fennel - Choose a firm white bulb without blemishes or many signs of browning. You'll want to use both a fresh bulb and some dry seeds. Fresh Florence fennel is a sweet bulbous vegetable from the carrot family with a very mild and unique anise flavor. (Contrary to popular belief it does not taste like a licorice stick so please don't let that hold you back from making this soup).
  • Gluten Free - The fregola can be swapped for gluten free pasta of your choosing or replaced with diced potatoes, lentils and even butternut squash.
  • Grains vs Pasta - For an even healthier adaptation of this recipe you can swap the pasta with a whole grain. Barley and farro are classic ingredients found in Italian minestrone but wheat berries, wild rice and even quinoa could be used instead.
  • Add Ins - For an even thicker soup you can also add some shredded savoy cabbage and a can of cannellini beans. A handful of chopped Italian kale (Kavalo Nero) or baby spinach wilted at the last minute will add a nice boost of micronutrients to the meal. Any freezer vegetables that need using up could go in here: broccoli, asparagus, green peas, green beans, mushrooms and even cauliflower.
  • Storage - This is one of those soups that taste even better the next day as all the flavors get to marry overnight. It keeps well in the fridge up to 5 days and can be frozen for a rainy day if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 155kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Sodium: 236mg | Potassium: 491mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 2224IU | Vitamin C: 39mg | Calcium: 83mg | Iron: 2mg

Course: Soup

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: fennel soup, minestrone soup, Vegan

Servings: 8 people

Calories: 155kcal

Author: Florentina

Italian Minestrone Soup Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are all the ingredients in minestrone soup? ›

Common ingredients include beans, onions, celery, carrots, stock, and tomatoes. There is no set recipe for minestrone, since it is usually made out of whatever vegetables are in season. It can be vegetarian, contain meat, or contain a meat-based soup base (such as chicken stock).

What is the most common soup in Italy? ›

Minestrone is a classic Italian soup known worldwide as one of the best Italian soups. It's got a flavorful broth and a variety of slow-cooked vegetables like potatoes, peas, and carrots. Adding Italian sausage gives it a kick of flavor and a shot of protein, so it's a complete meal all by itself.

Does minestrone traditionally contain meat? ›

No minestrone does not always contain meat. But the great thing about minestrone is that it can be made with meat or without. The idea behind minestrone is to use whatever you have on hand, whether that is an abundance of seasonal vegetables like zucchini or extra ground beef that you need to cook up.

What is Olive Garden minestrone soup made of? ›

Saute onion, celery, garlic, green beans, and zucchini in the oil for 5 minutes or until onions begin to turn translucent. Add vegetable broth to pot, plus drained tomatoes, beans, carrot, hot water, and spices. Bring soup to a boil, then reduce heat and allow to simmer for 20 minutes.

What is the thickening agent for minestrone? ›

The secret ingredients for the minestrone soup broth are bacon, parmesan and Worcestershire sauce, and a touch of tomato paste which thickens the broth nicely as well has driving home the tomato flavour.

What is the sardinian minestrone soup made from? ›

What is this? There are a lot of versions of Sardinian minestrone around but most start with is a soffritto (onion, celery and carrot) and then layers vegetables, beans and broth.

What is a interesting fact about minestrone soup? ›

Minestrone is one of the cornerstones of Italian cuisine, and may even be more widely dispersed and enjoyed throughout Italy than pasta. The soup was initially made from small things leftover from previous meals, combined so as not to waste perfectly good food.

What's the difference between minestrone and vegetable soup? ›

Minestrone soup is unique because it typically includes beans, pasta, or rice, as well as vegetables, and the ingredients are always left chunky (it's never blended), making it a heartier option. Vegetable soups are usually simpler and don't typically include beans or pasta, and you could have a blended vegetable soup.

What is the No 1 soup in the world? ›

According to the Taste Atlas Awards, the international food database, the Filipino favorite, Sinigang, is hailed as the best soup in the world.

What is the most eaten vegetable in Italy? ›

The vegetable that's most associated with Italian cuisine is, without a doubt, the tomato.

What are the 2 most popular foods in Italy? ›

Pizza. Besides pasta, pizza is perhaps the most popular and recognized Italian food. Pizza is considered a national symbol representing Italy to the rest of the world, so much so that UNESCO has acknowledged pizza as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Do Italians eat minestrone? ›

Its an Italian staple for a reason and always hits the spot! Its no wonder Italians eat Minestrone Soup on a regular basis. Besides the fact that its super delicious, its so good for you too! Filled with protein, fiber, vitamins and nutrients which makes you feel good from the inside out!

Why is minestrone soup so good? ›

Thanks to its detoxifying properties, minestrone stimulates the purification of the liver and the entire body. “It provides minerals such as magnesium and potassium, which help drain and remove excess fluid responsible for fluid retention and swelling,” according to the nutritionist.

What does minestrone mean in Italian? ›

The word minestrone, meaning a thick vegetable soup, is attested in English from 1871. It is from Italian minestrone, the augmentative form of minestra, 'soup', or more literally 'that which is served', from minestrare, 'to serve', and cognate with administer as in 'to administer a remedy'.

What are the ingredients in yes minestrone soup? ›

Water, Tomato Puree (Water, Tomato Paste), Carrots, Potatoes, Cooked Garbanzo Beans, Celery, Enriched Pasta (Wheat Flour, Egg Whites, Niacin, Ferrous Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Spinach, Diced Tomatoes In Tomato Juice, Zucchini, Contains Less Than 2% Of: Kidney Beans, Peas, Salt, Yeast ...

What are the ingredients in Campbell's minestrone soup? ›

This classic Italian soup is loaded with carrots, potatoes, celery, tomatoes, kidney beans, green beans and zucchini with shell-shaped pasta and spices.

What is the most common ingredient in soup? ›

The most common ingredient in soup dishes is onion. Garlic, chicken broth, carrots, olive oil, tomatoes and celery are also common ingredients in soup recipes. For herbs and spices, cayenne pepper is popular.

What are the ingredients in La Zuppa minestrone? ›

INGREDIENTS. Vegetables (56%) (Pumpkin (15%), Potato, Carrot (9%), Green Pea (5%), Onion, Borlotti Bean, Cabbage, Zucchini, White Bean), Water, Tomato Paste (1%), Salt.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Manual Maggio

Last Updated:

Views: 6104

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (69 voted)

Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Manual Maggio

Birthday: 1998-01-20

Address: 359 Kelvin Stream, Lake Eldonview, MT 33517-1242

Phone: +577037762465

Job: Product Hospitality Supervisor

Hobby: Gardening, Web surfing, Video gaming, Amateur radio, Flag Football, Reading, Table tennis

Introduction: My name is Manual Maggio, I am a thankful, tender, adventurous, delightful, fantastic, proud, graceful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.