It's Spring Minestrone Soup. Easy, one pot vegetable soup that's bursting with fresh green vegetables. Perfect for lightened up lunch or dinner. Also try my delicious Vegan Longevity Minestrone.
Spring Minestrone
If there's one soup recipe that unlike anything else celebrates spring produce, that would be Minestrone.
Green, healthy and loaded with texture and good-for-you ingredients. What's not to love?
While original Minestrone soup contains mostly pantry ingredients, this soup is laden with vibrant green vegetables that you find in abundance in any grocery store.
In addition, this easy soup is prepared in one pot. Because the less dishes to wash, the better.
This Vegetable Minestrone is a light and refreshing soup. It comes together quickly and is great for lunch or dinner.
I originally developed this soup recipe around fresh asparagus that I had in my fridge. Although, you can buy asparagus at any time of the year, spring is the best season for growing and buying it.
Asparagus is literally loaded with vitamins and antioxidants. It is low in calories which makes it a wonderful vegetable for weight loss.
In addition, asparagus is believed to boost mood and this is always a good reason to include it in your diet.
Ingredients in Spring Vegetable Minestrone
My favorite thing about this vegan recipe is that you can really use any spring vegetables you get your hands on. No leeks? Use Vidalia onion or regular yellow onion. No green peas? Replace with snap peas or corn kernels.
Here are the other ingredients you'll find in this wonderful spring soup:
- Olive oil - if you follow WFPBNO diet, skip the oil and use water or veggie broth
- Leek, fennel, carrot, garlic - flavor enhancers. Make sure to reserve some fennel fronds.
- Vegetable Broth
- Potatoes - you might as well use new potatoes
- Asparagus - sold at Costco in big bunches
- Cannellini beans - Navy beans are fine as well
- Italian seasoning - for more herby aroma
- Fresh Green peas - you may substitute with frozen peas
- Pasta - any type of pasta will do
Instructions
Wonderful thing about this recipe is that it's so easy to make.
- Sauté the veggies - brown the leek, fennel, carrot and garlic. Make sure to season the veggies with ½ teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning. This will bring out the flavor even more;
- Add liquids - broth, potatoes, beans;
- Simmer for 5 minutes, add your favorite pasta and cook for another 7 minutes.
- Stir in the remaining vegetables - asparagus and peas and continue cooking for 5 more minutes. Adjust the seasoning and serve garnished with fennel fronds.
A few tips on cooking asparagus: the indicated 5 minutes cooking time yields more like a "crunchy" asparagus. If you don't like this and you prefer asparagus to be softer, cook it for 2-3 minutes longer.
Storing and Freezing
This refreshing spring soup is best when consumed right away, however it will keep well in a fridge overnight.
To ensure maximum freshness I wouldn't recommend freezing this soup.
More refreshing spring soups to try
Recipe
Spring Vegetable Minestrone
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil water or veggie both
- 1 leek may substitute with a regular yellow onion
- ½ fennel bulb
- 1 large carrot diced
- 2 cloves garlic thinly sliced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 8 c vegetable broth
- 2 medium potatoes cubed
- 1 can (15.5 oz) Cannellini Beans* rinsed and drained, Note 1
- ½ cup pasta Fusilli, Penne, Elbows, any pasts will do
- 2 c (about 20 stalks) asparagus trimmed
- 1 c fresh or frozen peas may substitute with snap peas or frozen corn
- 1 ¾ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
Instructions
- Slice off the leek's dark green end. Then thinly slice the remaining pale green part of leek into rings and discard the root end.
- Trim off the fennel stalks and the root end. Cut fennel bulb in half and discard tough outer layers. Slice the remaining fennel crosswise. For this recipe, you'll only need to slice one half of the fennel. Make sure to reserve the fennel fronds.
- Heat olive oil in a large pot and over medium heat. Add leek, fennel, carrot and garlic. Season the veggies with ½ teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning.
- Add vegetable broth, potatoes and beans. Simmer the soup for 5 minutes then add your favorite pasta and cook for another 7 minutes.
- Stir in the asparagus and peas and continue cooking for 5 more minutes. Adjust the seasoning and serve garnished with fennel fronds.
Notes
Nutrition
Vanessa says
Thanks for sharing! Does it keep long?
Iryna says
You're welcome Vanessa! I would store this soup in a refrigerator for no longer than 1 day.
Suzanne says
This looks so good! What a great blend of flavorful and filling spring veggies!
Sarah says
Yummy! Great with brown rice instead of pasta too.
Iryna says
Sarah, thank you so much for your comment and 5 star rating! I'm happy you liked this recipe! Using brown rice instead of a pasta is even healthier.
Easyfoodsmith says
I can only imagine, how beautifully fragrant this soup must be
Iryna says
Thank you! It's really flavorful:)