Minestrone, is Italian for minestra, meaning soup, plus the one suffix, meaning big, together making 'big soup'. It is a traditional Italian thick soup dish using fresh vegetables and often had with pasta or rice. It's fresh ingredients make it not only a healthy meal, but one that is easy to make. Traditionally, it was a dish made for its filling, yet inexpensive to make factors, and often used as the main course of a meal. The vegetables used in minestrone vary from recipe to recipe. Typically, any vegetable that is in season, or any vegetable of one's own liking can be used in minestrone. You can also add meats and beans if preferred. The following recipe is minestrone in one of it's most basic forms, but full of flavor. It's also a great way to get your daily source of vegetables, important for any diet. Enjoy!
Ingredients:
- 8 carrots (peeled and chopped)
- 6 celery sticks (chopped)
- 2 zucchini (chopped)
- 1 large onion (chopped)
- 3 cloves of garlic (chopped finely)
- 1 tablespoon of oregano
- 1 tablespoon of paprika
- salt and pepper (to taste)
Directions:
- In a large pot, add olive oil and turn on the medium-high. Add chopped onions, garlic, oregano and paprika. Sautee for 2-3 minutes, or until onions and garlic have softened. By sautéing this with the spices, it allows the spices to really pick up the taste in the overall dish.
- Add chopped carrots, celery, and zucchini. Stir well and continue to sauté vegetables for 5-7 minutes.
- Add water to the pot. Add enough water so that it at least covers all of the vegetables. Add about another 1-2 cups to that. The amount of water you put will change the consistency of the minestrone, the less water you put, the more thick your minestrone will be. Alternately, the more water you put, the more watery and soup-based your minestrone will be. It's a matter of personal preference, however, the less water option will make a more traditional minestrone because of its typical thick consistency.
- Add salt and pepper to your liking.
- Cover and cook over medium heat for 20-30 minutes.
Serve With:
This fresh minestrone can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. You can add a small-cut pasta such as macaroni or ditali or with rice, which are two of the traditional ways of having minestrone. It can also be simply enjoyed on its own or with a slice of bread. The infusion of the fresh vegetables and spices makes this a delicious dish in one bowl. With a few simple ingredients that can be changed depending on the season, or with your favorite vegetables, you can enjoy a rustic and hearty meal, and one that is a staple in Italian cuisine.
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