Minestrone Soup { Gluten-free + Vegan}

Its cold outside and I like tucking myself in a blanket in front of TV with a hot bowl of soup. Minestrone soup is a classic Italian soup. Bursting with the flavour of tomatoes and fresh basil, this soup is loaded with vegetables. Its one of my favourite soups. 

I particularly love this soup because it's one pot magic! Its really simple to make and takes just about 30 minutes or less to get ready. Its perfect to make when you have people coming over. I make it all the time and everyone love it. All you have to do is saute some vegetables, add tomato puree and stock and let it bubble away. 

If you are into Italian food like me, then this soup would pair really well with my Pasta salad, Fusilli pesto with cherry tomatoes, Margherita Pizza which I make with homemade Pizza dough, Bruschetta bar, Penne Arabiatta and Gnocchi in Marinara sauce.

Steaming bowl of soup is all I want when it's chilly! It really is very comforting!!

I can't tell you how flavourful this soup is! Its spicy, tangy, peppery, garlicky. There's so much going on in this simple and hearty soup.

You can pretty much add in whichever vegetables you have on you like carrots, french beans, peas, cabbage, cauliflower, mushrooms, zucchini, bell-peppers, capsicum, celery, onions, broccoli. You can also add in pasta and beans which is often added in this soup.

INGREDIENTS (Serves 4)

• 4 big tomatoes- pureed
• 1/2 cup cabbage- finely chopped 
• 1 big onion- finely chopped
• 2 carrots- finely chopped
• 1/2 cup french beans - finely chopped
• 2 clove garlic- crushed
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp dried mixed herbs
• Red chilli flakes- 1tsp
• Tomato Ketchup- 1 tbsp
• Few basil leaves
• Salt to taste
• black pepper powder-1/2 tsp
• 2-3 glass of veg stock/water
• 1 Tsp cornflour dissolved in little water

METHOD

• Purée tomatoes and keep aside.

• In a deep sauce pan, add olive oil. Once oil is hot, add garlic, onions and cook till onions are translucent.

• Now add cabbage, carrots, french beans, salt, pepper, mixed herbs, chilli flakes and stir around. Cover with a lid and cook on medium flame for 5 minutes.

• Stir in the tomato purée, ketchup and veg stock/water. Bring to boil and then simmer covered for 15 minutes.

• Add in dissolved cornflour and let the soup come to boil.

• Garnish with basil leaves and serve hot.

Some points

• Add rice or pasta to turn this soup into a complete meal.
• Add lesser vegetable stock or water if you like thicker consistency.
• Add grated cheese for extra sharp flavour.
• Adding rice or pasta will release starch and make soup thicker itself

If you try this soup, don't forget to take a picture and tag #fascinatingfoodworld on Instagram.

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If you love soups, try these too

Cream of mushroom soup

Comforting Barley soup

Watermelon and tomato gazpacho

Tom Kha (Thai coconut milk soup)

Also try these amazing Italian recipes

Pesto Fusilli with cherry tomatoes

Gnocchi in Marinara sauce

Margherita Pizza

Favourite pasta salad