Rustic Minestrone Soup Recipe

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Minestrone-Soup

Photo Credit – Some rights reserved by diekatrin

Rustic Minestrone Soup

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 medium onion (chopped)
  • 3 celery stalks (chopped)
  • 3 slices of bacon cut into 1” pieces or 3 oz. pancetta
  • 1 shallot (finely minced)
  • 1 pound Swiss chard (stems trimmed, leaves coarsely chopped)
  • 6 – 8 red potatoes (washed and cubed)
  • 4 medium tomatoes (seeds removed and diced)
  • 2 sprigs fresh rosemary (stems removed)
  • 5 cups beef stock
  • 2 cups canned cannellini beans (drained and rinsed)
  • ¾ cup Ditalini or other small tube pasta
  • Parmesan cheese rind
  • Salt and pepper (to taste)
  • Garnish: Homemade Basil Pesto* (optional)
  1. Melt butter in a heavy large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, bacon, and shallots to the pan. Sauté until the onion is translucent and the celery is soft, approximately 10 minutes.
  2. Add the Swiss chard and potato, cook for 2 – 3 minutes before adding the tomatoes and rosemary sprigs. Simmer for about 10 – 15 minutes or until the tomatoes start to break down.
  3. Process 1 cup beans with ½ cup beef broth in a blender until smooth. Add the pureed bean mixture, remaining broth, dry pasta and Parmesan cheese rind to the pot and simmer for about 15 minutes. Stir occasionally until the potato pieces are tender and the pasta is cooked.
  4. Add remaining whole beans and simmer until heated through, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Top with a swirl of homemade basil pesto and serve with crusty Italian bread and shaved Parmesan cheese.

Check out our Fresh Basil Pesto Recipe.

Willow Stevens

Willow is a mother of six who begins to feel the empty nest, with faer oldest child living with his long-time girlfriend in another state, and the next three begin their talks about jobs and the excitement of college and living alone. Willow started couponing in 2007 to save their family some money on the grocery budget. That's how Freetail Therapy was born, so that fae could share their knowledge of saving money with others. Though the site has become so much more since then, and now includes homeschooling and homesteading info, Willow still does it all on a budget and shares how. Willow enjoys snagging freebies, snuggling with their dog, Xander, drinking decaf coffee, gardening, cannabis and of course, their large frugal family.

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