Mean Green Minestrone

Prep Time: 15 Mins

Cook Time: 15 Mins

Total Time: 30 Mins

Serves: 4-6 pitas

If you are a tomato hater this one is for you. You guys went crazy for my mean green tuna melt, so let’s make the green version better than the red. Minestrone is delicious and nutritious! If you haven’t seen the Blue Zone documentary, it is one of the dishes the centenarians of Sardinia eat daily. This soup has all that goodness: cannellini beans, pasta, and tons of veggies (green ones of course). But what puts the mean in this mean green fighting for life machine is the toppings. Parmesan, lemon zest, and fresh basil and mint!

Ingredients

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

2 stalks celery, finely chopped

10 green onions, finely diced

6 garlic cloves, minced

3 400 g can cannellini beans, drained & rinsed

250g any small pasta shape

6-7 cups stock (vegetable or chicken)

250 g asparagus, woody ends removed and sliced

250g zucchini (about 2-3), diced

1 teaspoon table salt, plus more to taste

freshly ground black pepper

Handful of fresh mint and basil, roughly chopped

Freshly grated parmesan

Lemon zest

Directions

---

1. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large stock pot over medium heat. Once hot, add the spring onions and stir fry for 2-3 minutes, until softened. Add the garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes more.

2. Add the cannellini beans, pasta, stock, and salt into the pan, stir and bring to a boil then reduce heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook for 10 minutes until the pasta is al dente, if the pasta has absorbed a lot of liquid and you want a more brothy soup, add more stock. Add the asparagus and zucchini cooking until just tender – another 2-3 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings.

3. To serve, ladle soup in bowls and top with fresh mint, basil, parmesan, and lemon zest.

• Storing Tips

  Leftovers keep for 3-4 days in the refrigerator. Leftovers can be frozen for 2-3 months in the freezer. The pasta will absorb water as it is stored, to reheat add more stock or water.

• Nutrition

  Per 1 serving (6 total):

  Calories: 466

  Carbohydrates: 82g

  Protein: 23g

  Fat: 7g

  Saturated Fat: 1g

  Fiber: 13g

  Sugar: 5g