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Winter Minestrone

Warm, hearty, and packed with winter veggies, this classic minestrone is the ultimate cold-weather comfort soup.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 2 carrots peeled and chopped
  • 2 celery stalks chopped
  • 3 ounces thinly-sliced pancetta coarsely chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 pound Swiss chard stems trimmed and leaves coarsely chopped
  • 1 russet potato peeled and cubed
  • 1 14- ounce can diced tomatoes use scissors to open
  • 1 fresh rosemary sprig
  • 1 15- ounce can cannellini beans drained and rinsed
  • 2 14- ounce cans low-sodium beef broth
  • 1- ounce piece Parmesan cheese rind
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Heat the olive oil in a large heavy pot over medium heat.
  • Add the chopped onion, chopped carrots, chopped celery, chopped pancetta, and minced garlic. Sauté until the onion becomes translucent (about 10 minutes).
  • Add the chopped Swiss chard leaves and the cubed potato to the pot. Sauté for about 2 minutes more.
  • Add the diced tomatoes and the fresh rosemary sprig. Simmer until the Swiss chard is wilted and the tomatoes begin to break down (about 10 minutes).
  • While that’s simmering, in a blender or food processor combine ¾ cup of the drained cannellini beans with ¼ cup of the beef broth. Blend until almost smooth.
  • Add the pureed bean mixture to the pot, along with the remaining beef broth and the Parmesan rind. Bring back to a simmer and cook until the potato pieces are tender, stirring occasionally (about 15 minutes).
  • Stir in the remaining whole cannellini beans and the chopped parsley. Simmer for about 2 minutes more, until the beans are heated through and the soup has thickened a bit.
  • Remove and discard the Parmesan rind and the rosemary sprig (the leaves will have fallen off). Season the soup with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Ladle the soup into bowls and serve. For extra comfort, serve with rustic crusty bread to mop up the broth.