Minestrone Soup
Meal: 120 cal Protein: 4g Carbs: 12g Fat: 7g
This soup can be very hearty or a lighter, fresher-tasting soup depending upon the season and availability of produce. We have opted to lighten up this beautiful Italian classic. The standard, American-style Minestrone soup which is heavy on pasta, potatoes, and cheese can be well in excess of 300 calories per cup. What we’ve done is eliminate a lot of the starch/carb calories and reducing the amount of cheese and eliminate the pasta and potatoes. But we’ve really increased the flavor by adding a small amount of pancetta, adding a super flavorful Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, and finishing with a small garnish of pesto and balsamic vinegar. The end result is a soup worthy of slurping all the way to the bottom of the bowl and, it comes in at only 120 calories per serving!
A few notes about ingredient sourcing. This video was shot in Italy, so the product sourcing is very different. In the US, I would never use Knorr broth because it has chemicals and less than great ingredients, but the Italian version is beautiful. Same with the Pesto. The key here always is, buy the best quality ingredients you have available in your market.
Ingredients
- 3 C Vegetable Broth
- 1 Can Tomatoes , drained (save liquid, set tomatoes aside)
- 1 Tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 oz Pancetta , finely diced
- 1 Small Onion , finely diced
- 1 Small Carrot , finely diced
- 1 Stalk Celery , finely diced
- 1 Small Zucchini , finely diced
- 1 Can/Carton Cannellini Beans , drained and rinsed
- 2 oz Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese , grated
- 1 Tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
- Pesto
Directions
- In small saucepan, warm broth and liquid from tomatoes over low heat.
- In soup pot over medium heat, add olive oil. When hot, add pancetta. Cook until lightly crispy. Add onions, cook until softened. Add carrots and celery, cook until softened and lightly browned. Add zucchini, cook until softened. Add beans, stir well.
- Add 1 ladle of warm broth, stirring to deglaze the pan. Add remaining broth, simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat, add cheese and vinegar.
- Optional Items that can be added: Potatoes (finely diced), Cabbage (finely shredded), cooked Pasta
