Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make Tortellini Minestrone Soup:
olive oil – It doesn’t need to be extra virgin olive oil, and you can even use a neutral cooking oil, but olive adds nice flavor.
onion – You’ll need one chopped onion. In a pinch you can add dried onion flakes when you add the broth, but fresh onion really makes a difference.
carrots – Carrots add a subtle sweetness to the pot and they’re a cheap vegetable, so why not?
potatoes – I like using russets but you can use red potatoes as well. If you have frozen stew vegetables, that’s an easy swap.
zucchini – Italian squash always makes the minestrone feel more authentic.
bell pepper – You can use any color pepper, but I usually have red pepper on hand
broth or stock – I like the heartiness of beef broth, but you can use chicken, vegetable, or the drippings from a roast dinner if you like.
tomato sauce – One cup of tomato sauce is all you need, but you can sub pizza sauce, spaghetti sauce or even dilute a tablespoon tomato paste in water as a subsitute.
canned tomatoes – I like using petite diced tomatoes, but you can use whatever you typically use in recipes.
beans – I like to use garbanzo beans but you can also use canned kidney beans if you prefer
herbs and spices – You’ll need dried oregano, dried basil, salt, and black pepper. You can substitute fresh herbs or a dried Italian herb blend if that’s what you have
green beans – I like to use frozen green beans, but you can use fresh or canned as well.
tortellini – I prefer fresh cheese tortellini, but you can use frozen or dried noodles or you can even use small pasta instead.
Italian sausage – I love to use hot Italian sausage in this minestrone since it has so much flavor. The garlic is usually already included, too. If you already have cooked sausages leftover from another meal, skip the saute step and add them to the pot with the broth.
toppings for serving – Parmesan cheese is a nice topping, but you can also add croutons or a swirl of pesto or basil sauce.
Additional vegetables – As I mentioned, this recipe is very forgiving, feel free to add a few cups of chopped spinach or kale when you add the green beans. You can also incorporate chopped mushrooms, celery, or butternut squash in the saute step.
