Minestrone Recipe the Quick Way

Minestrone

Minestrone is one of Italian Cuisine’s darlings we have all happily welcomed and adopted in our homes. Bursting with color, fragrances and flavors, it is very easily assembled and makes one of the most cherished comfort foods in all seasons. I trust you should have no trouble whatsoever finding dozens of delicious minestrone recipes, made the loving unhurried way. My idea for this quick and incredibly satisfying version of the classic minestrone was: How can I play with the same ingredients and still get a great minestrone in a fraction of the time, and as always, all natural? The answer is: the fabulous selection of unprocessed frozen vegetables available in supermarkets, and dry herbs (although if you do have fresh basil, it would be really nice) makes for a wonderful minestrone. This soup requires no prep work at all. Please note the optional grains I have suggested cook quickly and need no soaking, to keep up with the brief cooking time of the soup.

Please Skip the Noodles!

Forgive me if I get impatient with the addition of those insipid elbow noodles we encounter all too often in minestrone. It adds nothing but low fiber low protein caloric starch to the super nutritious super delicious soup. And most annoying of all, the noodles continue to expand when you reheat the soup, turning it to mush.

If you really want to make it heartier and a complete meal,

– Add chickpeas or beans (see ingredient list)
– Add shredded cheese or diced chicken.

Ingredients

• 3 quarts (12 cups) water
• 3 pounds of any frozen cut vegetables: Short and sweet selection: cauliflower, broccoli, string beans, zucchini, turnips, onions, corn, peas, carrots, okra, spinach, kale, lima beans, edemame, pidgeon peas, etc….
• 1/2 cup of steel cut oats, red lentils, barley or spelt flakes, or 1 1/2 cups canned beans or chickpeas
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• Salt to taste
• Good pinch red pepper flakes
• 3 cups canned crushed tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 2 tablespoons paprika
• 4 bay leaves
• 1 tablespoon dry basil

Instructions