Vegan Italian Minestrone
Few things hit harder on a cold evening than a big pot of minestrone bubbling away on the stove, and this version is loaded with carrots, celery, zucchini, green beans, cannellini beans, kale, and ditalini pasta in a rich crushed tomato and vegetable broth. The base builds serious depth the old-fashioned way — softened aromatics, a couple minutes of tomato paste cooked until it darkens, and a long enough simmer to let everything meld together. Every single ingredient here is naturally free of animal products, so there's no need to audit labels or swap anything out; it's plant-based from the ground up without any compromise on flavor or heartiness. The cannellini beans add creamy protein and body, while the kale stirred in at the end stays vibrant and tender rather than mushy. A pinch of red pepper flakes and dried oregano and thyme give the broth that unmistakably Italian backbone. Finish each bowl with torn fresh basil and a shower of vegan parmesan, and serve it alongside crusty bread to catch every last drop. This recipe makes six generous servings, so it's ideal for feeding a crowd or stocking the fridge with lunches that only get better the next day.
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Learn more →Ingredients
6 servings
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
- 3 medium carrots, peeled and diced
- 3 stalks celery, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
- 6 cups vegetable broth
- 1 can (15 oz) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 medium zucchini, diced
- 2 cups green beans, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
- 2 cups kale, stems removed and leaves roughly chopped
- 1 cup ditalini pasta
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 parmesan rind (optional)
Can be omittedparmesan rind
- salt and pepper, to taste
For serving
- 2 tbsp fresh basil, torn, for serving (optional)
- vegan parmesan, for serving (optional)
- crusty bread, for serving (optional)
Can be omittedcrusty bread
Instructions
- 1
Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onion, carrots, and celery and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and the onion is translucent, about 7–8 minutes.
- 2
Add the garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the tomato paste and stir to coat the vegetables, cooking for 2 minutes until the paste darkens slightly.
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