hearty-minestrone

Winter Best Food

Hearty Minestrone

This version of the Italian classic soup Minestrone is packed with leeks, potatoes, beans, zucchini, spinach and orzo, making it perfect for a hearty lunch or supper on a cold winter's night. To make a vegetarian version use vegetable rather than chicken broth.

Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 3 medium leeks, trimmed, washed (see Tip) and thinly sliced
  • 4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth, or vegetable broth
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 large red potato, diced
  • 2 teaspoons dried thyme
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
  • ½ cup whole-wheat orzo
  • 1 15-ounce can white beans, rinsed
  • 2 medium zucchini, quartered and thinly sliced
  • 1 pound fresh spinach, stems removed
  • 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese, preferably Parmigiano-Reggiano

Directions

  1. Heat oil in a Dutch oven or large soup pot over medium-high heat. Add leeks and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 3 minutes. Add broth, water, potato, thyme, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, for 5 minutes.

  2. Add orzo and cook, partially covered, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, for 5 minutes. Add beans and zucchini and continue to cook, partially covered, until the vegetables and pasta are tender, about 8 minutes more.

  3. Stir in spinach and cook, stirring, until wilted, about 2 minutes. Season the soup with vinegar. Ladle into bowls and garnish with Parmesan.