Minestrone

wildheart's Note:

This soup is wonderful with a good garlic bread and a nice red wine.

• Total Time: 2 hrs 15 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 2 hrs

Ingredients:

Servings: 6

• 2 lbs Italian sausage
• 1 tablespoon margarine
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 8 cups beef broth or 8 cups beef bouillon
• 28 ounces canned tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1 teaspoon basil
• 1/4 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 small zucchini or 3 small mexican squash, diced
• 3 small yellow squash, diced
• 3 carrots, diced
• 1/2 cup small shell pasta
• salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Brown the sausage in a soup pot.
2. Drain the fat.
3. Melt the margarine in with the sausage.
4. Sprinkle with the flour; stir to mix.
5. Add the broth or bouillon, the tomatoes (slightly chopped), the onion, and the seasonings.
6. Simmer 45 minutes.
7. Toss in the remaining ingredients, and simmer about 30 minutes more.
8. This soup can be slowly simmered all day if you check to be sure there's enough liquid.

Reviews

[DoQu Russell]

Made this for the first time & do believe this recipe puts the Minestroni at the local Olive Garden to shame! Made mine vegetarian by omitting sausage & adding Great Northern beans for the protein.My Italian mother-in-law was impressed.

[Buster's friend]

Nice minestrone - used approx. 2# sicilian-style italian sausage & leftover home canned tomato sauce for the canned tomatoes. Left out the margarine & flour & added a cup each of cooked dark red kidney & garbanzo beans & 2 stalks of leafy celery to the listed veggies. Used basil & oregano still hanging on out in the last of the garden - tripled them as they were fresh & not dried. Threw in some fresh italian parsley that was looking good while out in the yard too. Made the house smell so good on a damp chilly November day! Great flavor, good vegies & complex carbs... couldn't ask for more. Thank you wildheart for a nice staple recipe.

[AlwaysAl]

This was fantastic!!! I did it with the sausage and beans and everyone loved it.