Minestrone is not just a soup but a symbol of comfort and Italian culinary tradition. It has been cooked in different regions of Italy for centuries, and every family has its own special recipe. The main essence of this dish lies in seasonality, richness, and harmony of flavors.

Unlike strict culinary rules, minestrone allows creativity: it can be thick or more liquid, with pasta or without, with beans or lentils. Every cook adds a piece of themselves into it.

✨ Key Features of Minestrone

• 🍅 Vegetable-based — the soup is always built on fresh vegetables.
• 🌱 Seasonal — in summer, zucchini and beans; in winter, cabbage, potatoes, and carrots.
• 🫘 Legumes — traditionally white beans or chickpeas.
• 🍝 Pasta or rice — a small portion makes the soup more filling.
• 🫒 Olive oil — a must-have for authentic flavor.
• 🧄 Aromatics and spices — garlic, basil, oregano, and rosemary create harmony.

🥕 Ingredients for Classic Minestrone

Vegetables

• Carrots — 2 pcs
• Onion — 1 pc
• Celery — 2 stalks
• Zucchini — 1 pc
• Potatoes — 2 pcs
• Tomatoes — 3 pcs or 400 g canned tomatoes

Additions

• White beans (cooked or canned) — 200 g
• Small pasta (shells, ditalini, stars) — 100 g
• Garlic — 2 cloves
• Basil, oregano, bay leaf — to taste
• Extra Virgin olive oil — 3 tbsp
• Salt, freshly ground pepper

🍳 Step-by-Step Recipe

1. Preparing the vegetables

• Dice the onion, carrots, and celery.
• Cut zucchini and potatoes slightly larger.
• Scald tomatoes, peel, and chop them.

2. Sautéing the base

Heat olive oil in a pot, add onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté for 5–7 minutes until soft.

3. Adding tomatoes

Add the chopped tomatoes or canned ones. Simmer for 10 minutes until the base is rich and flavorful.

4. Cooking the vegetables

Add potatoes, zucchini, and about 1.5 liters of water or vegetable broth. Cook for 20 minutes.

5. Legumes and pasta

Add beans and pasta. Cook until the pasta is tender (around 8–10 minutes).

6. Final touch

At the end, add garlic, spices, and fresh herbs. Remove from heat and let the soup rest for 10 minutes.

🧑‍🍳 Useful Tips

• ✅ For a thicker soup, puree half of the beans and return them to the pot.
• ✅ Use Parmesan when serving: grate some on top before serving.
• ✅ For richer flavor, add a splash of wine when simmering the vegetables.
• ✅ In summer, use fresh basil; in winter, rosemary or thyme.
• ✅ Minestrone tastes even better the next day — the flavors fully develop.

🍷 Serving Suggestions

• 🥖 With a piece of crusty ciabatta or baguette.
• 🧀 With grated Parmesan or Pecorino.
• 🍷 In Italy, it’s often paired with a light red wine such as Chianti.

💡 Variations

1. Winter version

• Add cabbage, pumpkin, and celery root.
• The soup becomes hearty and warming.

2. Summer version

• Use zucchini, green beans, fresh tomatoes, and green peas.
• A light and refreshing flavor.

3. With rice

• Replace pasta with Arborio rice.
• The result is something between soup and risotto.

📜 A Bit of History

The name minestrone comes from the Italian word minestra — meaning “soup.” This dish was always considered peasant food, cooked from whatever was at hand. That’s why there is no single recipe — minestrone is always new, reflecting the season and the cook’s mood.

Today, you can find it in Italian households as well as fine dining restaurants. And every chef takes pride in their own “authentic” version.

🌟 Conclusion

Minestrone is a versatile soup that can be adapted to any taste and season. It combines the freshness of vegetables, the richness of legumes, and the comfort of homemade cooking. Once you try it, you’ll surely want to return to this recipe again and again.

🥣 Add your own “secret” ingredient — and Minestrone will become your family’s signature dish!