This hardy minestrone recipe combines Italian sausage, garlic, tomatoes, red wine–all the goodness found in true Italian cooking.
Garnish with shredded or shaved Parmesan cheese.
Serve with hot bread.
Every bite is filled with rustic goodness.
Almost three decades ago, a woman at my church, who was known for her skills in cooking, happened to be part of a group I was in, where we shared lessons to share with our family.
In one of her packets, she shared this recipe for hardy minestrone soup.
It is the last meal I ate before I delivered Zac.
It’s the only minestrone I love.
What Makes this Minestrone Stand Out?
It is has a rich tomato-based broth, bold flavors and is filled with flavor and textures.
I love that this recipe uses modest, unassuming ingredients that pack a punch of flavor for the unsuspecting.
It’s easy enough for me to throw it all into a crockpot and walk away.
It is thick, almost like a stew.
You’ll find the typical vegetables zucchini, carrots, celery in this minestrone-but there is also garlic, onion, diced tomatoes and plenty of herbs!
Add or subtract the vegetables as you like.
It’s been a meal of comfort, love and casual dining.
Hardy Minestrone Recipe Ingredients
1 pound Italian sausage
1 pound ground beef
1 cup chopped onion
2 cups sliced carrots
1 cup sliced celery
6 cups beef broth]
1/2 cup red wine
1 (16 ounces) can Italian tomatoes, with liquid
1 cup ketchup
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup zucchini, sliced1 pound fresh tortellini pasta
1 red bell pepper, diced
1/4 cup chopped parsley
salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Hardy Minestrone Recipe Directions
Combine Italian Sausage with ground beef. Brown sausage mixture in the pot; drain off fat
Add onions and saute until tender.
Add carrots, celery, beef broth, red wine, tomatoes, ketchup, Italian seasoning, and garlic.
Bring to a boil and simmer for 30 minutes.
Skim away the fat from the soup.
Stir in the zucchini, tortellini, red bell pepper, and parsley.
Simmer, covered, for about 25-30 minutes or till the tortellini are tender.
Season with salt and pepper.
Sprinkle with cheese right before serving.
Serving Tips:
If you are making a double batch, cook the tortellini separately.
Then spoon the tortellini into the bowls of minestrone.
This will keep the tortellini from sopping up the broth and getting mushy.
Don’t pass on the vino!!
The flavor is much more rounded if you use red wine.
You can substitute grape juice for the wine, but I don’t think it tastes as good.
This Hardy Minestrone Freezes Well:
If you have left overs, or you make a batch as part of your weekly meal prep, this minestrone freezes well.
Place in a freezer-friendly container and store for up to three months in the freezer.
To reheat, just thaw the minestrone in the refrigerator 24 hours ahead of time, then reheat on the stovetop until warm.
Hardy Minestrone Recipe
This hardy minestrone recipe uses modest, unassuming ingredients that pack a punch of flavor for the unsuspecting.
Ingredients
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 2 cups sliced carrots
- 1 cup sliced celery
- 6 cups beef broth]
- 1/2 cup red wine
- 1 (16 ounces) can Italian tomatoes, with liquid
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup zucchini, sliced1 pound fresh tortellini pasta
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1/4 cup chopped parsley
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Combine Italian Sausage with ground beef. Brown sausage mixture in the pot; drain off fat
- Add onions and saute until tender.
- Add carrots, celery, beef broth, red wine, tomatoes, ketchup, Italian seasoning, and garlic.
- Bring to a boil and simmer for 30 minutes.
- Skim away the fat from the soup.
- Stir in the zucchini, tortellini, red bell pepper, and parsley.
- Simmer, covered, for about 25-30 minutes or till the tortellini are tender.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Sprinkle with cheese right before serving.
Notes
If you are making a double batch, cook the tortellini separately.
Then spoon the tortellini into the bowls of minestrone.
This will keep the tortellini from sopping up the broth and getting mushy.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 servings Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 738Total Fat: 42gSaturated Fat: 17gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 22gCholesterol: 170mgSodium: 792mgCarbohydrates: 31gFiber: 3gSugar: 8gProtein: 54g
Nutritional information may not be accurate