Italian · Soups & stews

Classic vegetable minestrone

Name: Classic vegetable minestrone
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h 10 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil; 1 large yellow onion, diced; 2 medium carrots, diced; 2 celery ribs, diced; 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided; 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped; 2 tablespoons tomato paste; 1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes; 6 cups low-sodium vegetable broth; 1 Parmesan rind, optional; 1 teaspoon dried oregano; 1 bay leaf; 1 can (15 ounces) cannellini beans, drained; 1 small zucchini, diced; 6 ounces green beans, cut in 1-inch pieces; 3 cups thinly sliced green cabbage; 3/4 cup small pasta such as ditalini; 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar; 1/3 cup chopped basil or parsley; Grated Parmesan, for serving

A generous Italian vegetable soup with beans, tomatoes, zucchini, green beans, cabbage, and small pasta in a Parmesan-scented broth.

About 1 hr 10 minTotal

About 1 hr 10 minActive

$Cost

EasyDifficulty

Makes 8 servings

Equipment

Use a hot sheet pan under an inverted oven-safe metal bowl for the covered phase.
Best value covered pot
Lodge Essential Enamel 6-Quart Dutch Oven · EC6D43
View at Amazon
Another workable path: Use a hot sheet pan under an inverted oven-safe metal bowl for the covered phase.
Paid links. As an Amazon Associate, Kwilt earns from qualifying purchases.
How we chose
Research-backed · reviewed Aug 2026
We matched capacity, lid fit, oven rating, heat retention, maneuverability, care, stable model identity, and usefulness outside bread baking. Kwilt has not baked with this pot.
Lodge Essential Enamel 6-Quart Dutch Oven · EC6D43: The six-quart capacity, heavy cast-iron body, and fitted lid create the enclosed high-heat environment used by these bread methods while remaining useful beyond baking. Trade-off: At more than thirteen pounds it is demanding to move when hot, and the enamel needs gentler utensils and hand washing.
Another workable path: Bake on a preheated heavy sheet pan under an inverted oven-safe metal bowl, keeping face and hands clear when removing the hot cover.
Sources
Lodge six-quart Essential Enamel specifications
Amazon exact product listing

Ingredients

1× recipe · Makes 8 servings

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 large yellow onion, diced
2 medium carrots, diced
2 celery ribs, diced
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
6 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
1 Parmesan rind, optional
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 bay leaf
1 can (15 ounces) cannellini beans, drained
1 small zucchini, diced
6 ounces green beans, cut in 1-inch pieces
3 cups thinly sliced green cabbage
3/4 cup small pasta such as ditalini
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1/3 cup chopped basil or parsley
Grated Parmesan, for serving

Instructions

Heat olive oil in a over medium. Add onion, carrots, celery, and 1 teaspoon salt and cook 8 minutes until soft and lightly golden. Add garlic and tomato paste and cook 1 minute.
Add crushed tomatoes, broth, optional Parmesan rind, oregano, bay leaf, and remaining salt. Simmer uncovered 15 minutes so the broth develops before the quick vegetables arrive.
Add beans, zucchini, green beans, and cabbage and simmer 8 minutes. Add pasta and cook according to its package, usually 8 to 10 minutes, until just tender and the vegetables remain distinct.
Discard rind and bay leaf. Stir in vinegar and half the herbs, then taste for salt and pepper. Add a splash of broth if the pasta has made the soup thicker than desired.
Serve with remaining herbs, Parmesan, and olive oil if desired. For planned leftovers, cook pasta separately and add it to bowls so it does not absorb the vegetable broth overnight.

ItalyItalian regional household cooking

From the table

About this recipe

Minestrone is an adaptable Italian vegetable soup rather than one fixed recipe; beans, seasonal vegetables, tomato, pasta, herbs, and optional Parmesan rind make this version substantial.

Minestrone means a substantial soup, not one immutable ingredient list. Italian versions follow season and pantry, typically building flavor from vegetables, beans, and sometimes pasta or rice. This all-season household version offers a reliable roster while preserving that spirit: cabbage, green beans, or zucchini can rotate, but the layered aromatic broth and vegetable abundance should not disappear. This Kwilt version follows the reviewed household adaptation: Combine two high-rated classic patterns with comparative testing, build a longer aromatic broth before the quick vegetables, and keep the leftover-safe separate-pasta option explicit.

Sources

Dinner does not stop at the recipe