Winter Minestrone

Winter Minestrone 

This recipe was found under the S tab for soup. 

I've never cooked an entire homemade soup in the microwave before this recipe. I'd have to say I was quite surprised that it came out so well! I'm not sure why the person who wrote this recipe wouldn't just use the stove, but I'm sure it's because they were in a hurry and wanted the soup NOW! (No soup for you!) 

This recipe is another one that was cut out by my mom from a newspaper. I have no clue where it came from and neither does she. As usual she never tried to make this recipe. I'm sure she would have remembered making and entire soup in the microwave if she did! Let's get microwaving! 

Winter Minestrone

1 Tablespoon olive oil

1 Clove garlic, minced

1 Medium onion, coarsely chopped

1 Cup diced potato (1 large)

½ Cup sliced carrot (1 Medium)

½ Cup thinly sliced celery (1 stalk)

1 Cup shredded cabbage

1 Cup (8 ounces) fresh or canned coarsely chopped tomatoes, undrained

15- ½ Ounce can kidney beans, undrained

1 Cup vegetable, beef or chicken stock or water

¼ Cup chopped fresh parsley

¼ Cup chopped fresh basil or 1 teaspoon dried

Freshly ground pepper

½ Cup small dry pasta

Freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1. Combine oil, garlic, and onions in 2-quart microwave-safe casserole. Cover tightly with lid or plastic wrap turned back slightly and microwave on HIGH (100 percent power) 1 minute.

2. Add potato, carrot, celery and cabbage. Drain juice from tomatoes into casserole. Cover again and microwave on HIGH until vegetables are tender, 6 to 8 minutes.

3. Add tomatoes, beans, stock, parsley, basil and pepper to taste. Cover again and microwave on HIGH until heated through, 8 to 10 minutes.

4. Meanwhile, heat 2 cups water to boiling in pan on top of stove. Add pasta and cook until al dente, following package instructions. Drain pasta and stir into soup at end of cooking time.

5. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese when service.

6. Serves four as main course or eight as appetizer.

Most of the ingredients are vegetables so it shouldn't be hard to find them in your local grocery store. 

The first step will be to find a big enough casserole dish that can hold 2 quarts of liquid and can also be microwaved. Once you have that settled you will need to mince your garlic. You can use a garlic press or a food processor for this if you'd like. 

Then go ahead and coarsely chop your medium sized onion. 

When the onion and garlic are ready go ahead and put them in the dish with the olive oil. 

Hopefully your dish has a top otherwise you will need to create one! 

When your lid is on go ahead and place it in your microwave and cook for 1 minute. While that is cooking you can start chopping your vegetables. 

Cut the potato into wedges that are pretty much the same size so they will cook evenly. 

Then cut your carrot thin. It says to slice them, but you can leave them a little thicker if you'd like. Just make sure they are all the same size. 

Next, slice the celery very thin, again making sure they are all the same size. 

If you need to chop the cabbage then you should do this here. (I bought pre-cut cabbage). When the vegetables have been chopped go ahead and add them to the casserole dish. 

Next you will need to drain the juice from the can of tomatoes into the casserole. (Don't put the tomatoes in yet!) I found it easiest to use a strainer and hold it over the casserole dish as I poured the can into it. 

Make sure you mix the tomato juice into the vegetable well. 

Go ahead and cover the casserole dish again and place it in the microwave for 6 to 8 minutes until your vegetables are tender. You can tell if they're tender by sticking a fork in them. If they come off of the fork easily then they are ready. 

When the veggies are done go ahead and add the tomatoes to the casserole (the ones you strained earlier). 

Then add the entire can of beans (liquid included). 

Next to go in the casserole is the stock (or water). 

Then go ahead and add the parsley, basil, and as much pepper as you'd like. 

Give the soup a good mix before putting the top back on. 

Put the cover back on the dish and put it in the microwave for another 8 to 10 minutes. Meanwhile you can start to boil the 2 cups of water on the stove. 

When your water is boiling go ahead and add the pasta to the pot and stir immediately. To cook your pasta to al dente (not mushy) be sure to follow the directions on the box. Mine cooked for about 9 minutes. 

You can taste the pasta by scooping out one and trying it. Make sure it's not too hard, but also not very soft. When they're ready go ahead and strain the water out. 

Add the pasta to the casserole dish and mix well. 

Once the pasta is in the dish the soup is done! Just sprinkle some Parmesan cheese on top and it's ready to eat. (Careful, it will be very hot). 

Dig in! 

This is definitely an easy way to make soup albeit a strange one! 

I gave this recipe a 5 out of 5 on the yummy scale! 

I definitely recommend trying this soup. It's quick to make and will warm you from head to toe, especially during these cold winter days. Happy cooking!