I concocted this dish using my family's recipe and another recipe I found online as guidelines, while also putting my own spin on it. What it turned into was the best minestrone my family has had yet! My husband likes his soups with hardly any broth; thus, 'hearty minestrone!' Enjoy!Ingredients | Minestrone Soup With Meatballs
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound ground beef
1 (14.5 ounce) can low-sodium chicken broth
2 (14.5 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
2 cups tomato sauce
½ cup water, more if needed
2 cups diced carrots
1 zucchini, sliced and quartered
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 tablespoon dried basil
1 ½ teaspoons dried oregano
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 cup finely chopped broccoli
½ cup elbow macaroni
¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese, or more to taste
Directions
Heat vegetable oil in a large frying pan over medium heat; cook and stir onion and garlic until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add ground beef; cook and stir until beef is crumbly, evenly browned, and no longer pink, about 10 minutes. Drain excess grease.
Transfer ground beef mixture to an 8-quart stockpot; add chicken broth, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, water, and carrots. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer until carrots are partially cooked, 10 minutes. Add zucchini, bell pepper, basil, oregano, salt, and black pepper; simmer until carrots are tender, about 10 more minutes.
Stir broccoli and macaroni into soup; simmer until macaroni is cooked through but firm to the bite, about 10 minutes. Garnish with Parmesan cheese to serve.
You really can use any combination of vegetables you'd like besides the carrots and zucchini. Usually celery, spinach, and green beans are also used in minestrone, but I didn't have them when I made this recipe, so I just used broccoli. The best thing about soups is you totally have options!
Info | Minestrone Soup With Meatballs
prep:
15 mins
cook:
45 mins
total:
1 hr
Servings:
8
Yield:
8 servings
TAG : Mama's Hearty Minestrone
Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes, Soup Recipes, Vegetable Soup Recipes, Minestrone,
Minestrone Soup With Meatballs - The secret ingredient in the broth is what makes it and this recipe for minestrone soup that graces the pages has always been one of my favorites.
