COOKING LIGHT MINESTRONE SOUP RECIPES

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in large stock pot over medium-high heat. Add pancetta; cook and stir until it begins to brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in onions and celery; cook and stir until onions start to turn translucent, about 3 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook for another minute.
• Pour chicken broth, water, and plum tomatoes into the pancetta and onion mixture. Bring to a simmer.
• Stir cranberry beans, cabbage, garbanzo beans, red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, and 2 teaspoons salt into broth mixture. Bring to a simmer and cook until cranberry beans are tender, adding more water as needed if the soup becomes too thick, about 45 minutes.
• Stir in Swiss chard and simmer until softened, about 15 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
• Stir in pasta and increase heat to medium-high and simmer until pasta is tender, about 15 minutes. Ladle into bowls and top with extra virgin olive oil, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, and Italian parsley.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cook garlic and 2 tablespoons oil in a medium skillet over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the garlic is softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Add bread; toss to coat. Spread the mixture evenly on a baking sheet. Bake until toasted, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add leek and carrots; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 5 to 6 minutes. Add broth, water and salt; cover and bring to a boil over high heat. Add pasta and reduce heat to medium-high; cook uncovered, stirring often, for 5 minutes. Add zucchini; cook, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is al dente, about 5 minutes. Stir in beans, kale, peas and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the kale is wilted, about 2 minutes. Ladle the soup evenly into 6 bowls; sprinkle with the croutons.