Minestrone Soup

Yield – 4 servings
Preparation Time – 15 minutes
Cooking Time – 20 minutes

Ingredients

2 Tbsp butter
1 small white onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
4 carrot sticks, peeled and chopped
1/2 lb. green beans, trimmed and cut into 1″ pieces
15 oz. can tomato sauce
15 oz. can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 Tbsp Italian seasoning blend
6 cups chicken or vegetable stock (or equivalent bouillon base)
1 1/2 cups elbow pasta noodles
Salt and pepper to taste
Parmesan cheese & fresh basil, optional garnishes
Side: dinner rolls

Directions

In a large saucepan, melt the butter and saute the onion, celery, garlic and carrots for 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in the green beans, tomato sauce, kidney beans, Italian seasoning and chicken stock. Bring to bubbling.

Once bubbling, stir in the pasta noodles and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, or until al dente. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Remove soup from the heat and prepare to spoon into serving bowls. (You don’t want the pasta to overcook!)

Serve Minestrone Soup with optional Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh basil and side of dinner rolls.

Assembly Prep Directions for 1 Meal

To a gallon-size plastic freezer baggie, add the following ingredients:

• 1 small white onion, chopped
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 4 carrot sticks, peeled and chopped
• 1/2 lb. green beans, trimmed and cut into 1″ pieces
• 15 oz. can tomato sauce
• 15 oz. can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 Tbsp Italian seasoning blend
• 6 cups chicken or vegetable stock (or equivalent bouillon base)
• Note: Do NOT add the dry pasta to the freezer baggie.

Remove as much as air as possible and seal.

Freeze & Thaw Instructions

Put baggie in the freezer and freeze up to 6 months in fridge freezer or 12 months in a deep freezer. Thaw in a warm bowl of water for about 20 minutes, before transferring all the ingredients to a large saucepan or stockpot. Add stock or water, bring to boil and then add pasta noodles. Cook for 8-10 minutes or until pasta is al dente and serve.

Special Notes

Dairy-Free Modifications: Omit the Parmesan cheese garnish.

Gluten-Free Modifications: Gluten-free when using gluten-free small shell pasta.

Printable Label: Minestrone Soup. Add all ingredients to large saucepan. Add stock or water, bring to boil and then add pasta noodles. Cook for 8-10 minutes or until pasta is al dente and serve.