Print This Post
Minestrone in minutes
OK, I admit this is not an original recipe–but what recipes really are? This one I found after purchasing Better Than Bouillon
I got home and noticed a minestrone recipe on the side of the jar. And it required hardly any prep and ingredients I usually have on hand. Awesome.
Their recipe basically calls for a few tablespoons of the bouillon–which comes as a very thick paste–four cans of tomatoes, a can of kidney beans, some frozen mixed veggies, a chopped onion, a few common spices and macaroni. You throw it all together, cook if for 25 minutes and it is done. You don’t even have to worry about what order stuff goes in.
I have never gone with 4 cans of tomatoes when making this. It is tangy enough with just 2 cans. And frozen mixed veggies? No way. Pick and choose frozen (or canned, ugh) veggies you like rather than the standard mixed veggies. I often throw in broccoli, spinach, green peas, corn or cauliflower.
You could easily vary the pasta. I’ve used rigatoni, penne and fusilli instead of macaroni. The macaroni does have one advantage because it is smaller. The others tend to dominate the minestrone.
So here are the basics:
Ingredient list
- Better Than Boullion — 2 tablespoons
- Two cans of tomatoes — 1 diced and one crushed
- One can of beans — Kidney, garbanzo, navy. You’ve got several options here.
- A cup or so of veggies — I gave my suggestions already. Have fun and put in what you like.
- A cup of pasta– Macaroni works best, but whatever you have on hand will do great.
- Spices — A teaspoon of oregano, basil and garlic powder are about all I use as the bouillon has spices. I’ll use the jarred chopped garlic if I have some.
- One onion — The one non-containerized ingredient. Please don’t buy the pre-chopped onions at the grocery store. It is a waste of money and plastic.
Recipe
From here, just dump all the ingredients in a big pot, add enough water to make things swim and get it boiling. Once it is boiling, cut the heat down to medium and let it cook for about 20 minutes. While that is on, warm up some bread rolls, and you are set.