Best 8 Winter Minestra Recipes

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As the cold weather settles in, there's nothing quite like a warm and hearty bowl of minestra to chase away the chill. This classic Italian soup is a delightful blend of vegetables, beans, and pasta, simmered in a flavorful broth. With its rustic charm and comforting flavors, winter minestra is the perfect dish to nourish your body and soul on a cold winter's day. Whether you're a seasoned home cook or just starting out, this versatile soup offers endless possibilities for customization, so you can tailor it to your own preferences.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

WINTER MINESTRONE



Winter Minestrone image

Provided by Giada De Laurentiis

Categories     main-dish

Time 55m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

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

Steps:

  • Heat the oil in a heavy large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, celery, pancetta, and garlic. Saute until the onion is translucent, about 10 minutes. Add the Swiss chard and potato; saute for 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and rosemary sprig. Simmer until the chard is wilted and the tomatoes break down, about 10 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, blend 3/4 cup of the beans with 1/4 cup of the broth in a processor until almost smooth. Add the pureed bean mixture, remaining broth, and Parmesan cheese rind to the vegetable mixture. Simmer until the potato pieces are tender, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes. Stir in the whole beans and parsley. Simmer until the beans are heated through and the soup is thick, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Discard Parmesan rind and rosemary sprig (the leaves will have fallen off of the stem.)
  • Ladle the soup into bowls and serve.

WINTER MINESTRONE



Winter Minestrone image

Provided by Melissa Roberts

Categories     Soup/Stew     Bean     Dinner     Lunch     Bacon     Celery     Carrot     Winter     Family Reunion     Cabbage     Escarole     Potluck     Gourmet     Wheat/Gluten-Free     Peanut Free     Tree Nut Free     Soy Free     No Sugar Added

Yield Makes 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

1/3 pound sliced pancetta, chopped
3 medium red onions, chopped
4 celery ribs, chopped
2 medium carrots, chopped
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 bunch Swiss chard
6 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 (28-ounce) can whole tomatoes in juice
3 quart hot water
5 cups coarsely chopped cored Savoy cabbage (6 ounces)
5 cups coarsely chopped escarole (1/2 pound)
1 piece Parmigiano-Reggiano rind (about 3 by 1 1/2 inches)
1 (19-ounce) can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
Accompaniments: extra-virgin olive oil for drizzling; cooked ditalini pasta tossed with oil (optional); grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

Steps:

  • Cook pancetta, onions, celery, and carrots in oil in a wide 7-to 9-quart heavy pot over medium heat, stirring occasionally, while preparing chard.
  • Cut out stems from chard and chop stems, reserving leaves. Stir chard stems into pancetta mixture with garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, and 3/4 teaspoon pepper and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are very tender and begin to stick to bottom of pot, about 45 minutes total. (Set aside chard leaves.)
  • Push vegetables to one side of pot. Add tomato paste to cleared area and cook, stirring constantly, until it starts to caramelize, about 2 minutes. Stir paste into vegetables and cook, stirring, 2 minutes. (Paste may stick to pot, but don't let it burn.)
  • Stir in tomatoes with their juice, breaking them up with a spoon, then add hot water (3 quarts), scraping up any brown bits from bottom of pot.
  • Bring to a simmer. Stir in cabbage, escarole, and parmesan rind. Simmer, covered, until greens are tender, about 40 minutes.
  • Coarsely chop chard leaves and stir into soup along with beans. Simmer, partially covered, 10 minutes. Discard rind. Season soup with salt and pepper. If using ditalini, stir in just before serving.

WINTER MINESTRONE - GIADA DE LAURENTIIS



Winter Minestrone - Giada De Laurentiis image

Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis, Everyday Italian. I can't wait to make this one! (minus the pork)

Provided by Queen of my kitchen

Categories     Winter

Time 55m

Yield 4-6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 15

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 carrots, peeled, chopped
2 celery ribs, chopped
3 ounces thinly sliced pancetta, coarsely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 lb swiss chard, stems trimmed, leaves coarsely chopped
1 russet potato, peeled, cubed
1 (14 1/2 ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 fresh rosemary sprig
1 (15 ounce) can cannellini beans, drained, rinsed
2 (14 ounce) cans low sodium beef broth
1 ounce parmesan cheese, rind
2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley
salt and pepper

Steps:

  • Heat the oil in a heavy large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, celery, pancetta, and garlic. Saute until the onion is translucent, about 10 minutes. Add the Swiss chard and potato; saute for 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and rosemary sprig. Simmer until the chard is wilted and the tomatoes break down, about 10 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, blend 3/4 cup of the beans with 1/4 cup of the broth in a processor until almost smooth. Add the pureed bean mixture, remaining broth, and Parmesan cheese rind to the vegetable mixture. Simmer until the potato pieces are tender, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes. Stir in the whole beans and parsley. Simmer until the beans are heated through and the soup is thick, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Discard Parmesan rind and rosemary sprig (the leaves will have fallen off of the stem.).
  • Ladle the soup into bowls and serve.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 328, Fat 9.6, SaturatedFat 2.3, Cholesterol 6.2, Sodium 395.7, Carbohydrate 46.7, Fiber 11.3, Sugar 4.8, Protein 17

MINESTRA



Minestra image

This is a very conforting soup my Mum use to make a lot. Unortunately, I don't have her recipe but recently found this one in our local paper, courtesy of Ike DeLorenzo. He suggests using the best sausage you can find for this dish. His choice, cacciatorini, a dry, aged, spicy salami or pork and beef, or salsiccia Napoletana piccante, an excellent dry sausage from Naples. The use of the Parmedan rind flavors the whole soup.

Provided by dojemi

Categories     Low Cholesterol

Time 1h5m

Yield 8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 10

3 tablespoons olive oil
2 garlic cloves (finely chopped)
1/2 lb dry salami, grated with a large-hole grater (or pepperoni)
2 (32 ounce) packages chicken stock
parmesan cheese, rind (or other hard cheese) (optional)
3 (15 ounce) cans cannellini beans (rinsed with cold water)
2 heads escarole (or 1 head excarole mixed with dandelion greens or other greens, coarsely chopped)
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
6 ounces fresh spinach (stemmed)
freshly grated parmesan cheese (for serving)

Steps:

  • In a soup pot over medium heat, heat the oil.
  • Cook garlic, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes.
  • Add salami (or pepperoni) and cook, stirring often, for 5 minutes or until it begins to render its fat.
  • Add the chicken stock and cheese rind (if using).
  • Simmer for 15 minutes.
  • In a bowl with a fork, mash about 1 cup of the beans, set aside.
  • Meanwhile, in a steamer over boiling water, steam the escarole and other greens for 15 minutes.
  • Add the escarole, red pepper, and cannellini beans (mashed and whole) to the pot.
  • Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes.
  • Add the spinach and cook 5 minutes more or until it wilts.
  • Remove the cheese rind,(if using).
  • Taste the soup for seasoning and add more dalt and pepper, if needed.
  • Ladel into bowls and sprinkle with Parmesan.

MINESTRA MARITATA



Minestra Maritata image

Try this recipe from Nate Appleman's "A16 Food and Wine" for a hearty meal.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Dinner Recipes

Number Of Ingredients 13

Coarse salt
4 ounces (1/2 bunch) dandelion greens, coarsely chopped
1 bunch (6 ounces) rapini, tough stems removed and coarsely chopped
6 cups coarsely chopped cabbage (about 1/2 head)
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for serving
2 ribs celery, chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 bay leaf
1/4 teaspoon crushed red-pepper flakes
1 ounce pancetta, chopped (about 1/4 cup)
2 cups Cheese Brodo
1 cup Prosciutto Brodo
Chicken Meatballs

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add dandelion greens and cook until wilted, about 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon or a wire skimmer, transfer greens to a colander to drain. Add rapini to boiling water and cook until soft, 3 to 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon or a wire skimmer, transfer rapini to a colander to drain. Add cabbage to boiling water and cook until wilted, about 3 minutes. Drain and set greens aside.
  • In a large, heavy-bottomed pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add celery, garlic, bay leaf, and red-pepper flakes. Cook, stirring occasionally, until celery and garlic are soft and translucent, about 3 minutes. Add pancetta and cook, stirring occasionally until lightly browned and crisp, about 3 minutes. Stir in greens and both brodos. Let simmer until greens are tender, about 10 minutes; season with salt and pepper. Add meatballs during the last 5 minutes of cooking, if desired.
  • Ladle soup into warmed bowls; drizzle with olive oil and serve immediately.

CONTEST-WINNING EASY MINESTRONE



Contest-Winning Easy Minestrone image

This minestrone soup recipe is special to me because it's one of the few dinners my entire family loves. And I can feel good about serving it because it's full of nutrition and low in fat. -Lauren Brennan, Hood River, Oregon

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner     Lunch

Time 1h5m

Yield 11 servings (2-3/4 quarts).

Number Of Ingredients 18

2 large carrots, diced
2 celery ribs, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) reduced-sodium chicken broth
2 cans (8 ounces each) no-salt-added tomato sauce
1 can (16 ounces) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (15 ounces) chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
1-1/2 cups shredded cabbage
1 tablespoon dried basil
1-1/2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 cup uncooked whole wheat elbow macaroni
11 teaspoons grated Parmesan cheese

Steps:

  • In a large saucepan, saute the carrots, celery and onion in oil and butter until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer., Stir in the broth, tomato sauce, beans, chickpeas, tomatoes, cabbage, basil, parsley, oregano and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Add macaroni; cook, uncovered, 6-8 minutes or until macaroni and vegetables are tender., Ladle soup into bowls. Sprinkle with cheese. Freeze option: Before adding cheese, freeze cooled soup in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a saucepan, stirring occasionally and adding a little broth or water if necessary.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 180 calories, Fat 4g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 4mg cholesterol, Sodium 443mg sodium, Carbohydrate 29g carbohydrate (7g sugars, Fiber 7g fiber), Protein 8g protein. Diabetic Exchanges

THE RIVER CAFE'S WINTER MINESTRONE



The River Cafe's winter minestrone image

A really thick, filling minestrone soup - tastes even better after a day

Provided by Good Food team

Categories     Dinner, Soup

Time 1h45m

Number Of Ingredients 14

2 tbsp olive oil
2 medium carrots , roughly chopped
1 large red onion , coarsely chopped
1 head of celery , coarsely chopped, keeping the leaves
1 head of garlic , cloves peeled
1kg Swiss chard , leaves shredded and stalks roughly chopped
a good handful of parsley , finely chopped
400g can peeled plum tomatoes , drained of most of their juices, roughly chopped
1kg cavolo nero , stalks removed, leaves shredded (or savoy cabbage)
410g can cannellini beans , drained and rinsed
about 700ml boiling chicken or vegetable stock
a few sprigs of winter herbs such as thyme or sage, chopped
freshly grated parmesan , or vegetarian alternative
extra-virgin olive oil , for drizzling

Steps:

  • Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan and slowly fry the carrots, onion and celery until soft and dark. This will take about 20 minutes but it's worth it - the slow cooking gives a lovely taste. Add the garlic, chard stalks and half the parsley, and stir to prevent sticking. Stir in the tomatoes and cook for 10 minutes or until reduced.
  • Add half the Swiss chard leaves, half the cavolo nero, three-quarters of the beans, and the boiling stock. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat. Simmer for 30 minutes. Pour in more stock if needed - don't add too much - it should be thick.
  • Add the remaining Swiss chard and cavolo nero and blanch briefly so they remain green and crisp. Season when slightly cooled.
  • Purée the remaining cannellini beans coarsely in a blender with some of the cooking liquid. Add to the soup - it should be very green. Stir in the herbs and serve hot with Parmesan and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 263 calories, Fat 10 grams fat, SaturatedFat 2 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 27 grams carbohydrates, Fiber 9 grams fiber, Protein 17 grams protein, Sodium 2.64 milligram of sodium

WINTER MINESTRONE WITH PESTO CROûTES



Winter minestrone with pesto croûtes image

Keep the winter out and warmth in with nutritious minestrone and pesto croûtes

Provided by Mary Cadogan

Categories     Lunch, Snack, Soup, Supper

Time 55m

Number Of Ingredients 16

2 tbsp olive oil
1 onion , chopped
100g unsmoked lardons or chopped streaky bacon
2 large carrots , chopped
2 sticks celery , chopped
1 medium potato , chopped
2 garlic cloves , finely chopped or crushed
400g can chopped tomatoes
1l vegetable stock (from granules or a cube)
2 tsp chopped sage leaves, or 1 tsp dried
few cabbage leaves, shredded
400g can haricot bean
handful chopped parsley
slices of crusty bread
3 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp pesto

Steps:

  • Heat the olive oil in a large pan, add the onion and lardons or bacon and fry for about 5 mins until the onion is starting to brown. Tip in the carrots, celery, potato and garlic, stir well and cook for a few minutes.
  • Add the tomatoes, stock and sage, and bring to the boil, stirring. Reduce heat to simmer and cook partly covered for 30 mins, stirring in the cabbage after 15 mins. Drain and rinse the beans and add to the pan with the parsley. Season and serve with pesto croûtes, see right, or crusty bread.
  • For the pesto croûtes: Cut 3-4 slices of crusty bread into chunks, about 2cm thick. Tip into an ovenproof pan. Mix the olive oil and pesto, then add to the bread, tossing it with your hands until the croûtes are evenly coated. Bake in a moderate oven for about 10 mins until crisp.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 274 calories, Fat 13 grams fat, SaturatedFat 3 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 28 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 12 grams sugar, Fiber 8 grams fiber, Protein 13 grams protein, Sodium 2.56 milligram of sodium

Tips:

  • Use fresh, seasonal vegetables. This will result in a more flavorful soup.
  • Don't be afraid to experiment with different types of vegetables. There are many different vegetables that can be used in minestra, so feel free to mix and match until you find a combination that you like.
  • Add some protein to your soup. This can be done by adding beans, lentils, or meat. This will help to make the soup more filling and satisfying.
  • Season your soup to taste. Minestra is typically seasoned with salt, pepper, and garlic, but you can also add other herbs and spices to taste.
  • Serve minestra with a side of bread or salad. This will help to round out the meal.

Conclusion:

Minestra is a delicious and versatile soup that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a great way to use up leftover vegetables and it is also a very affordable meal. If you are looking for a hearty and flavorful soup to warm you up on a cold winter day, then minestra is the perfect choice.

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