Description
This Italian Green Minestrone di Verdure is a vibrant, tomato-free twist on traditional minestrone, made with fresh vegetables, creamy white beans, and a fragrant basil pesto base. Finished with lemon zest, Parmesan, and olive oil, it’s a comforting, herb-packed soup perfect for meatless meals and seasonal cooking. Keywords: green minestrone, Italian vegetable soup, pesto minestrone, meatless minestrone recipe, traditional Italian soup, minestrone di verdure.
Ingredients
For the Soup:
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1 carrot, diced
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1 stick celery, diced
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1 onion, chopped
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6 cloves garlic, minced
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2 cups green cabbage, shredded
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1 1/2 cups golden potatoes, cubed
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15 oz canned Borlotti or Cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
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1 1/2 qt low-sodium vegetable stock
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1 sprig fresh rosemary
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8 sprigs fresh thyme
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1 tsp whole black peppercorns
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1 1/2 tsp sea salt
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3 tbsp olive oil
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1 lemon, zested and juiced
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1 cup baby arugula or spinach
For the Pesto:
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1 bunch fresh basil
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1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
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1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
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1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
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1 pinch sea salt
Instructions
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In a large soup pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add diced onion, carrot, and celery. Sauté for 5–6 minutes until softened.
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Stir in garlic, cabbage, potatoes, rosemary, thyme, peppercorns, and sea salt. Cook for another 5 minutes.
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Pour in the vegetable stock. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20–25 minutes, until the potatoes are fork-tender.
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While the soup simmers, prepare the pesto by blending basil, Parmesan, pine nuts, olive oil, and a pinch of salt until smooth.
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Remove rosemary and thyme sprigs from the soup. Stir in beans, arugula or spinach, lemon zest, and juice. Simmer for 5 more minutes.
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Stir in prepared pesto. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
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Serve hot, garnished with extra Parmesan and a drizzle of olive oil if desired.
Notes
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Swap in kale or chard instead of arugula/spinach for a heartier version.
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For added richness, stir in a spoonful of mascarpone or ricotta before serving.
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This soup keeps well in the fridge and tastes even better the next day.
