does traditional minestrone have meat

Classic minestrone does not contain meat or fish — it’s a hearty Italian vegetable soup. Of course, you can add meat (like ground beef or ground turkey) or seafood if you like; it just won’t be a classic minestrone.

When It Comes to Minestrone, Improvise!

So, what you put in your minestrone is really up to you. Dont like beans? Leave them out. Love pasta? Put some in (we recommend small pasta like ditalini). Minestrone really is all about improvisation.

But where to start? Here is a hearty base minestrone soup recipe, with plenty of white beans, zucchini, cabbage, tomatoes, carrots, celery, and onions. Its one of our favorite soups to make when the weather turns cool.

To Add Pasta or Not to Add Pasta?

This recipe doesnt call for pasta, but it can make minestrone extra hearty. Use small pasta like ditalini, but macaroni works in a pinch. About one cup of uncooked pasta is a good amount.

So, when do you add pasta to minestrone? If you want everything to cook in one pot, about 10 minutes into simmering the vegetables in Step 3. Youll probably need to add 1 to 2 more cups liquid bit by bit, since the pasta will absorb some.

For more control over doneness, boil the pasta separately in stock or water, then drain and add to the finished soup.

As leftovers sit, pasta absorbs broth and gets soft. To keep this from happening, boil it separately, drain, and add the cooked pasta as needed when you serve the soup. It’s best to freeze the soup with no pasta; add it after thawing and reheating.

Italian Minestrone Soup

FAQ

Does minestrone contain meat?

What is minestrone made from?

What’s the difference between minestrone and vegetable soup?

What’s the difference between pasta fagioli and minestrone soup?

What is minestrone soup?

This thick, hearty, melt-in-the-mouth Minestrone Soup is the ultimate “comfort food” for any time of the year. It is made with seasonal veggies, legumes and small pasta shape or rice. The beauty of this soup is that you can make it a hundred times and have it taste different every time you make it.

Can I add meat to minestrone?

Although you can add meat directly to minestrone (see tips above), it’s also wonderful served as a side with grilled chicken or beef. Use the leftovers as a topping for baked potatoes. Don’t let the long ingredient list fool you – this is an easy recipe with just 15 minutes prep time. It’s worth every one of those minutes, too.

Do Italians eat minestrone soup?

Yes, we do. Italians do eat a lot of minestrone soup and in 2020 they consumed 75,480 tons of this product in its frozen version. But why is such a simple dish so popular? These are the main reasons: The recipe can be customized and it takes very little effort to invent your own version;