Soup, stew, or if you’re a Rachel Ray fan, stewp…Nearly any variation of those sultry “S” words will seduce me on a cold winter’s day. Nothing warms me up like a hot, steamy bowl of soup when I’m feeling the winter chills. Like this minestrone soup—hearty, spicy, filled with that fiery heat I was looking for during this past week of freezing temps. The following recipe is for a minestrone-styled stew with a few small twists. Feel free to add rice or pasta to make your bowl even that much heartier.
Minestrone Stew
-2 Tbsp. olive oil
-1 large onion, diced
-4 stalks celery, diced
-2 carrots, sliced
-2 cloves garlic, minced
-2 medium potatoes, chopped
-14.5 oz. can fire roasted tomatoes with green chillies, undrained
-5 cups water or vegetable broth or a combination
-15.5 oz can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
-15.5 oz can chick peans, rinsed and drained
-1 tsp. basil
-1 tsp. oregano
-1/2 tsp. Chinese five spice
-1/2 pound kale, optional
-Salt, pinch
-Chives, chopped, optional
In large sauce pan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion, celery, and carrots, and cook 5 minutes. Stir in potatoes and garlic, cover, and let sweat another 3 minutes. Add tomatoes, spices, and water/broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Add beans and salt, to taste. Simmer 5 minutes. Add kale, if desired, and cook another 10 minutes, or until kale is tender. Remove from heat. Serve with a handful of chopped chives, if desired.
5 Comments
Andrea@WellnessNotes
January 30, 2011 at 8:11 amAll my soups are really “stewps” as I like lots of “stuff” in there… Love minestrone. Your stwe sounds wonderful!
Simply Life
January 30, 2011 at 8:17 amoh this is one of my favorites! Looks delicious!
Pamela
January 30, 2011 at 11:58 amI bought the makings for my own veggie soup, so after reading this I am gonna try it today. I really enjoy the recipes posted here.
Melinda
January 31, 2011 at 9:29 amLooks delicious as always. I think my husband would like this too. I wonder if the commissary has the Chinese 5 spice?
Angela (the diet book junkie)
February 1, 2011 at 1:39 amthanks for sharing, this looks sooo good (and easy. a must with my culinary skills.) i’ve been meaning to make minestrone too, just might have to steal this recipe.