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Healthy Spinach Minestrone Soup

July 9, 2014 by naivecookcooks 43 Comments

minestrone soup long

Soul warming healthy spinach minestrone soup in clear broth with tons of goodies!

Healthy Spinach Minestrone Soup

Its been in 90’s here lately and super humid. I know most people will be defended at the thought of being served a hot cup of soup during this time of the year with weather like this! But not me! Somedays all you want to have after a hard day’s work is a soul warming soup with lots of goodies.

This soup is exactly what I wanted for dinner yesterday. After testing three recipes, photographing, editing, writing and some other work, I was left with no energy at all. I wanted something filling yet healthy. That’s where this soup comes in. Best part it has only max 20 mins of hands on time. After that thrown in everything in a big pot and let it simmer for good 1 hour. That time you can use for may be catching up on your favorite book, watching your favorite show or if you are like me, drooling over all the food on my favorite sites!

Here in US we have a restaurant “Carrabas” who serves Italian food. I visited it for the first time few days back and I really liked the way they made their minestrone. Beans, chickpeas, potatoes, celery, kale, carrots, green beans and other goodies all cooked in a clear broth. I decided to make it for dinner as it was a perfect meal in itself. Throw in some bread with this soup and I can call it a meal!

Healthy minestrone soup with spinach

I modified it a little bit with whatever I had in my pantry and I must say it tasted much better than the restaurant version. I used vegetarian broth but you can by all means use a good chicken broth as well. It’s a clean soup with  only salt, black pepper and oregano used in the name of spices and with a very good flavor profile.

bowl of comforting green minestrone soup

P.S Perfect for dinner tonight?!

Spinach Minestrone Soup
 
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Author: Naive Cook Cooks
Ingredients
  • 4 cups water
  • 1 bay leaf
  • ¼ tsp red chili flakes
  • 1 tsp garlic paste
  • ½ cup red kidney beans, uncooked, cleaned, soaked in warm water
  • 2 tsp olive oil
  • ¾ cup yellow or red onion, chopped
  • ½ tsp garlic paste
  • 4 small celery sticks or 1 long celery stick, chopped
  • 1 medium size carrot, chopped in small chunks
  • 1 tsp oregano, dried
  • 1 small medium size zucchini, chopped in small chunks
  • 1-2 medium size tomatoes, chopped
  • 1 medium potato, peeled and chopped
  • 5-6 fresh basil leaves, chopped
  • 3 cup vegetarian broth
  • Salt to taste
  • Black pepper to taste
  • ½ tsp lemon juice (optional)
  • bunch of fresh spinach, chopped
Instructions
  1. In a pot, add 4 cups water, bay leaf, red chili flakes, 1 tsp garlic paste and red kidney beans (rinsed and discard the soaking water). Bring it to a boil. Cover the pot with a lid and simmer on medium for ½ hour or until beans get cooked.
  2. Meanwhile, take a deep pot. Add olive oil. Once oil gets hot, add onions and ½ tsp garlic. Saute and cook until onions are softened through. Add celery, carrots and oregano. Cook for few minutes and add zucchini and potato. Cook for another few more minutes and add tomatoes, basil leaves, broth. Stir it all together. To it add the cooked red kidney beans along with the liquid they cooked into. Stir it all together. Add salt and black pepper to taste. Cover and let it simmer for an hour for the flavors to develop.
  3. Once ready, taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Add lemon juice if desired. Add chopped spinach and stir. Serve hot with Parmesan cheese (optional).
3.5.3208

More Soup Recipes:

Butternut Squash and Poblano Soup

Turmeric Chicken Noodle Soup

Homemade Creamy Mushroom Soup

Filed Under: All Recipes, Healthy Recipes, Soup Recipes Tagged With: clean eating, dairy free, gluten free, hearty, minestrone, Recipe, Soup, Spinach, summer, winter

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. ela@GrayApron says

    July 9, 2014 at 1:58 PM

    Nice, I like that you used fresh spinach. Next time, I will too!

    ela h.

    Reply
    • naivecookcooks says

      July 12, 2014 at 8:03 PM

      Thanks Ela!!

      Reply
  2. Ema @ On the flavor road says

    July 9, 2014 at 5:36 PM

    Amy! Your style minestrone sounds nice :)! In Genova we make it thicker and we add pesto in the end and the parmesan crust while it is cooking :)!
    Hugs and love my dear :)!

    Reply
    • naivecookcooks says

      July 12, 2014 at 8:02 PM

      I love the way you make it too!!! I can only imagine how good will it be with all that pesto! Doing it next time totally!! Love and hugs :*

      Reply
  3. Bri | Bites of Bri says

    July 10, 2014 at 6:48 AM

    I love soup because you can pack in so many veggies for such a light and healthy meal. I’ll pin this for when it cools off though because when I eat soup during summer, I end up overheating 🙂

    Reply
    • naivecookcooks says

      July 12, 2014 at 8:01 PM

      Haha you are funny girl!! Thanks for stopping by though!

      Reply
  4. Karen (Back Road Journal) says

    July 10, 2014 at 8:03 AM

    When summer gardens all full of wonderful vegetables, it make perfect sense to make soup. Yours sounds terrific.

    Reply
    • naivecookcooks says

      July 12, 2014 at 8:01 PM

      I totally second you Karen!!

      Reply
  5. Olivia - Primavera Kitchen says

    July 10, 2014 at 9:28 AM

    Minestrone Soup is my favourite type of soup. Your looks great with spinach. Thanks for sharing 😉

    Reply
    • naivecookcooks says

      July 12, 2014 at 8:00 PM

      Thanks girl!

      Reply
  6. cheri says

    July 10, 2014 at 10:42 AM

    I love soup anytime of the year, this looks wonderful, love the addition of fresh spinach.

    Reply
    • naivecookcooks says

      July 12, 2014 at 8:00 PM

      Thanks Cheri!!

      Reply
  7. Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy says

    July 10, 2014 at 12:30 PM

    I love minestrone soup (although a bit too hot for it here at the moment), but haven’t put spinach in it before. Great idea!

    Reply
    • naivecookcooks says

      July 12, 2014 at 8:00 PM

      Thanks Dannii. It tasted really good with all that fresh spinach!

      Reply
  8. Arpita@ TheGastronomicBong says

    July 10, 2014 at 4:42 PM

    What a simple and hearty and a healthy soup!! perfect dinner.. :)

    Reply
    • naivecookcooks says

      July 12, 2014 at 7:57 PM

      Thanks girl!

      Reply
  9. Sarah@WholeandHeavenlyOven says

    July 10, 2014 at 6:30 PM

    I love a good minestrone soup and this would be a perfect fast dinner with these busy summer nights we have around here! Loving all the spinach you packed inside. 🙂

    Reply
    • naivecookcooks says

      July 12, 2014 at 7:57 PM

      Thanks Sarah and yes it’s perfect for crazy week nights!! I am thinking of making it during weekends and using it for those week nights!

      Reply
  10. Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says

    July 10, 2014 at 9:20 PM

    I love minestrone soup and absolutely love that you added spinach to it. Definitely gives it a new and creative twist! Pinning this for the future!

    Reply
    • naivecookcooks says

      July 12, 2014 at 7:56 PM

      Thanks Gayle!! Yes you should give this a try!

      Reply
  11. kristie @ birchandwild.com says

    July 10, 2014 at 10:09 PM

    Soup of any kind is one of my go-to meals. You can do so much with a few vegetables and some spices. This soup looks light and healthy, perfect for a summer day.

    Reply
    • naivecookcooks says

      July 12, 2014 at 7:55 PM

      Thanks Kristie!!

      Reply
  12. Caitlin @ teaspoon says

    July 11, 2014 at 1:26 AM

    It’s been raining here the past 2 weeks, so bring on the soup! looks yummy!

    Reply
    • naivecookcooks says

      July 12, 2014 at 7:55 PM

      Seriously isn’t soup the best food for gloomy rainy weather?!!

      Reply
  13. Ashley says

    July 11, 2014 at 3:28 PM

    I can eat soup all year round! We just had corn chowder the other night 🙂 This looks so delicious!

    Reply
    • naivecookcooks says

      July 12, 2014 at 7:53 PM

      Ashley I must have that corn chowder recipe!! Sounds too good!

      Reply
  14. Daniela says

    July 11, 2014 at 9:07 PM

    I love Minestrone at any time of the year.
    It’s comfort food at it’s best ad your version looks specially delicious.

    Reply
    • naivecookcooks says

      July 12, 2014 at 7:53 PM

      Thanks Daniela!!

      Reply
  15. Medha @ Whisk & Shout says

    July 11, 2014 at 10:38 PM

    Yum! I love soup, it’s so comforting and delicious 🙂 And it’s vegan too!

    Reply
    • naivecookcooks says

      July 12, 2014 at 7:53 PM

      Yes it is!! Thanks for commenting girl!

      Reply
  16. Nami | Just One Cookbook says

    July 12, 2014 at 12:59 AM

    I enjoy good and healthy soup all year around! Very comforting and perfect meal to end the busy day at home! :)

    Reply
    • naivecookcooks says

      July 12, 2014 at 7:52 PM

      Thanks Nami.

      Reply
  17. Helen @ Scrummy Lane says

    July 12, 2014 at 2:27 AM

    There’s nothing like a good minestrone. This one seems perfect for summer, actually. Very light and healthy. 🙂

    Reply
    • naivecookcooks says

      July 12, 2014 at 7:52 PM

      Thanks Helen. Yes it is seriously very light and if I must say so “a delicious healthy meal”!

      Reply
  18. Jules @ WolfItDown says

    July 14, 2014 at 9:38 AM

    I’m glad I’m not the only one who is found cooking up soups and stews in the middle of the Summer, you can get away with it whenever it’s not AS warm and bright outside though, I mean…there’s a reason why the nomads drink hot tea in the desert! …Right? This minestrone looks wonderful 🙂 x

    Reply
    • naivecookcooks says

      July 17, 2014 at 8:34 PM

      Ha I agree with you totally!!! Hehe

      Reply
  19. Michelle @ Vitamin Sunshine says

    July 17, 2014 at 8:03 PM

    Yummy. Minestrone is my favorite meal. I order it out all the time, and make so many variations at home. I recently posted a summer minestrone recipe as well– I’m going to have to try a touch of lemon juice the next time I make it. Sounds like a good touch to the broth!

    Reply
    • naivecookcooks says

      July 17, 2014 at 8:25 PM

      Yes actually I feel touch of lemon imparts that much needed oomph factor to our usual minestrone!

      Reply
  20. Anita says

    September 11, 2014 at 6:38 AM

    Hello Ami!
    Your Spinach Minestrone Soup has got so many beautiful and healthy ingredients. Love when it is a bit spicy as well!

    Reply

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