Made with carrots, diced tomatoes, kale, orzo, sausage, and TONS of flavor! This soup is the perfect cold-weather comfort food. It’s filling, healthy, tastes incredible, and it’s ready in under an hour.
Thanks to our friends at The FeedFeed and Muir Glen for sponsoring this recipe!
You all know by now that I love comfort-food-meets-healthy-food situations. This is another one of those situations! Minestrone soup is full of veggies, there’s a protein boost from the sausage, and it’s flavorful, cozy, and just all-around-incredible.
Part of the credit for the incredible flavor of this soup has to go to Muir Glen’s Organic Diced Tomatoes! Their flavor + quality are unmatched, and I love supporting any company that’s dedicated to sustainability + supporting farmers!
If you haven’t made homemade soup before, I’m here to tell you that it is a breeze! First, chop your veggies, and cook your sausage. Remove the sausage from the pot but don’t drain the fat. Sautee the onions, celery, carrots, and garlic to soften them a bit, then add the diced tomatoes, broth, the cooked sausage, and a few sprigs of fresh thyme + 2 bay leaves.
Simmer this until the veggies are soft, then stir in some torn kale and cooked orzo (or other pasta of your choice). That’s it! You’re done – and now you get to dig into a steaming hot bowl of soup that you made. from. scratch!
Sprinkle on a flurry of parmesan and DIG IN! It’s so flavorful – everyone you share this with will ask you for the recipe, you kitchen rockstar you! This recipe yields a lot of soup, so it’s perfect for entertaining and meal prep! I’ve basically been living off this soup for the last two weeks – when it’s cold out, there’s nothing I want more than a steaming hot bowl of healthy, hearty, Minestrone Soup!
Stop in to your local food co-op (find it with the store locator here) from Jan 22 – Feb 4th to stock up on Muir Glen canned tomatoes – snag 10 14.5 oz cans for $10! Your cupboards will be full and your belly will be happy when you feed it this soup all winter long.
Happy cooking!
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Healthy & Hearty Minestrone Soup
Made with carrots, diced tomatoes, kale, orzo, sausage, and TONS of flavor! This soup is the perfect cold-weather comfort food. It's filling, healthy, tastes incredible, and it's ready in under an hour!
Ingredients
- 1 lb sausage, cooked
- 3 large carrots, diced
- 2 stalks celery, diced
- 1/2 large yellow onion, diced
- 3 larg cloves garlic, minced
- 3/4 tsp salt
- pinch pepper
- 1/4 tsp dried oregano
- 3/4 tsp fresh thyme, chopped
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme, for simmering
- 2 bay leaves, for simmering
- two 14.5 ounce cans Muir Glen Organic Diced Tomatoes
- 6 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 and 1/2 cups orzo, cooked
- 2 large handfuls chopped kale
- 1 can cannellini beans
- parmesan + crusty bread for serving
Instructions
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Prep: Cook the sausage in a large dutch oven over medium heat until completely cooked through, then set aside. Don't drain the fat.
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Make the Soup: Add the carrots, onion, and celery to the soup pot with the salt, pepper, oregano, and thyme (not the sprigs) and sauté over medium heat and sauté for 4 minutes. Add the garlic, and continue sautéing everything for 3 more minutes, until things are beginning to get soft (the onion will be soft, the carrots and celery will be just starting to soften).
Add the diced tomatoes, broth, cooked sausage, fresh thyme sprigs, and bay leaves. Stir to combine. Bring the soup to a boil then reduce the heat to medium low and let it simmer with the lid on, but vented so steam can escape, for 25-35 minutes. While the soup simmers, cook your orzo.
Check the carrots and celery to make sure they're soft - the soup is done once they're soft! Discard the bay leaves and thyme sprigs. Stir in the chopped kale, cannellini beans, and drained orzo. Taste and add extra seasoning if desired.
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Serve + Store: Enjoy immediately with a sprinkle of parmesan! Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
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Swathi says
I too love minestrone soup. I like to use fire roasted tomatoes.Your version sounds perfect and filling one.
Lizet says
I’ve made it twice already. Delicious!
Stephanie Simmons says
Glad you like it! 🙂
Natalie says
Minestrone soups are my favorite soups during winter season. This recipe sounds really delicious. I love that is veggie loaded and so easy to make. Will def make this soon!
Lauren says
GREAT RECIPE!! Thank you! xoxo
Stephanie Simmons says
Thanks Lauren! Glad you liked it. 🙂