Hearty Italian Vegetable Soup (Printable)

Hearty Italian vegetable soup with pasta, beans, tomatoes, and aromatic herbs for a comforting wholesome meal.

# What You’ll Use:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
02 - 1 large onion, diced
03 - 2 celery stalks, diced
04 - 2 medium carrots, diced
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1 medium zucchini, diced
07 - 1 cup green beans, cut into 1-inch pieces
08 - 1 cup baby spinach or chopped kale

→ Base & Liquids

09 - 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
10 - 6 cups vegetable broth
11 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste

→ Pasta & Beans

12 - 3/4 cup small pasta such as ditalini or elbow
13 - 1 can (15 oz) cannellini or kidney beans, drained and rinsed

→ Herbs & Seasonings

14 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
15 - 1 teaspoon dried basil
16 - 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
17 - 1 bay leaf
18 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
19 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley plus additional for garnish

# How-To:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion, celery, and carrots. Sauté for 5 minutes until softened.
02 - Stir in minced garlic, diced zucchini, and green beans. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes.
03 - Add diced tomatoes, tomato paste, vegetable broth, dried oregano, dried basil, dried thyme, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
04 - Add pasta and drained beans. Cook for 10 minutes or until pasta reaches al dente texture.
05 - Stir in spinach or kale and chopped fresh parsley. Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes until greens are wilted.
06 - Remove bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Ladle into bowls, garnish with additional fresh parsley, and serve hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It clears out your vegetable drawer and somehow tastes better because of the randomness.
  • You can make it on autopilot once you know the rhythm, no precision required.
  • Leftovers get thicker and more flavorful, so day two is always the best.
02 -
  • If you add the pasta too early, it will soak up all the broth and turn your soup into a thick stew.
  • Always remove the bay leaf before serving, I once watched someone nearly choke on one and it wasn't funny.
  • Taste the soup after adding the beans because canned beans and broth can both be salty.
03 -
  • A Parmesan rind simmered in the broth adds a deep, nutty richness you can't get any other way.
  • If you want a thicker soup, mash some of the beans against the side of the pot before adding the pasta.
  • Fresh herbs at the end make all the difference, dried herbs build the base but fresh parsley brings it to life.
Go Back