Minestrone Soup – Fire Roasted Minestrone Soup with Kale Pesto

I can’t think of a better way to start the first weekend of the year than minestrone soup.

January is calling for a big warm bowl of minestrone soup with melting parm and a heavy handed drizzle of kale pesto. It told me so!

It’s hearty.

MY OTHER RECIPES

And soul warming.

It’s good for us!

And the best way to get in veggies!

It’s super satisfying.

Annnnd it tastes like heaven.

Soup is my love language. Whether it’s a bowl on its own, served with a salad, bread or a sandwich, I just adore it. It always fills me up and while I love some of the delicious salads I create to get me out of boring salad jail, warm soup always sounds a little better to me.

Emilia fell in love with this recipe which means it is extra special. She ate this so fast that she was crying for more before I could get the second bowl ready. The veggies are so tender and it’s full of so many different flavors and obviously tastes fantastic. So it’s perfect for little babes!

My usual food goal at the beginning of every year is to make sure we are always eating things that we love! I am always determined to make sure we take the foods we don’t love and find a way to make them taste great. Except for fennel seeds. That will never happen.

This minestrone soup fits the bill in so many ways.

After seeing this recipe, I knew I had to try butter beans in my minestrone. I love the idea of having a big, buttery (pun intended?) bean amidst all the chopped vegetables and smaller bites of pasta. And I love butter beans so much that I knew it would be delish!

I was also super drawn to the basil pistou in that recipe and knew that having some sort of topping on my soup would be a game changer.

The best ever soup with a drizzle on top is Heidi Swanson’s green lentil soup with curried brown butter. To this day, that is one of my favorite comfort food recipes! Ever since discovering it? It’s always on my list of favorite weeknight recipes.

Another one is this pasta and chickpeas situation (that I use for the base of homemade spaghettios!) with the garlic oil drizzle. That drizzle makes the flavor shine so much.

And of course, I have to use my favorite fire-roasted tomatoes to make this minestrone! That’s a given. Totally predictable.

But the best part? It really is the kale pesto on top. I have a kale pesto recipe in Seriously Delish and I tend to utilize it more in the winter months since great herbs aren’t as easily accessible. I still use fresh herbs in this pesto, but the kale also gives it that greens punch, so it’s like we’re adding a big dollop of health right on to our soup.

The kale pesto combined with the handfuls of spinach I tossed into the minestrone?

Um hello. This is my new favorite way to eat vegetables.

I make a full batch of the pesto. This way, I can always freeze leftovers and use it in other recipes during the week too, whether it’s pasta or salads or sandwiches. My favorite use is the drizzle on the soup, however. It will change your soup game! I swear.

My last requirement for minestrone is a bunch of freshly shaved parm grated right on top. Of course, I throw a parmesan rind in when I have one. But having it on top add this delicious sharp flavor that adds so much. It also adds a touch of richness.

Really. Is there anything better than this?!

Minestrone Soup

Yield: 6 people

This fire roasted minestrone soup is like a huge in a bowl. Chock full of vegetables, fire roasted tomatoes and butter beans, the bowl is topped off with a delicious kale pesto that adds even more flavor. Satisfying, healthy and perfect for dinner!

• 2
  tablespoons
  olive oil
• 1
  sweet onion
  diced
• 2
  garlic cloves
  minced
• ½
  teaspoon
  salt
• ½
  teaspoon
  pepper
• 3/4
  cup
  diced carrots
• 1/3
  cup
  diced celery
  (use more if you wish!)
• 1
  rind of parmesan cheese
  (if you have it!)
• 2
  14 ounce cans butter beans, drained and rinsed
• 2
  14 ounce cans fire roasted diced tomatoes
• 4 to 5
  cups
  low-sodium vegetable stock
• ½
  teaspoon
  dried basil
• ½
  teaspoon
  dried oregano
• 1
  cup
  ditalini pasta
• 6
  cups
  fresh baby spinach
• shaved parmesan,
  for topping

kale pesto

• 2
  cups
  kale leaves,
  torn from stems
• ½
  cup
  basil leaves,
  torn
• 1/4
  cup
  flat leaf parsley,
  torn
• 1
  garlic clove
• 1/3
  cup
  finely grated parmesan or romano cheese
• 3
  tablespoons
  pistachios
• pinch
  of salt and pepper
• 1/3 to ½
  cup
  extra virgin olive oil

1. Heat a large stock pot over medium-low heat and add the olive oil.

2. Add in the onions and garlic with the salt and pepper and stir. Cook until the onions are translucent, about 5 to 6 minutes.

3. Add in the carrots and celery, cooking for 5 minutes more.

4. Add in the parmesan rind, beans, tomatoes, stock, basil and oregano and stir. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce it to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes.

5. After 20 minutes, add in the ditalini pasta. Cook for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is cooked through. Toss in the fresh spinach.

6. Serve the soup with a few drizzles of the kale pesto and freshly shaved parmesan.

kale pesto

1. Place the kale, herbs, garlic, cheese, pistachios, salt and pepper in a food processor. Pulse until combined and small pieces remain.

2. Stream in the olive oil with the processor running until the mixture comes together. You can always add in more olive oil if you want the pesto thinner.

I can’t even express my love for this bowl right here.