Over-the-Rainbow Minestrone
“This colourful soup is vegetarian-friendly and full of fresh flavours from a rainbow of vegetables. You can use any multicoloured pasta in place of the spirals.” —Crystal Schlueter, Northglenn, Colorado
| Servings | Prep Time | Cook Time |
| 10servings (3-3/4 quarts) | 20minutes | 6hours 20 minutes |
| Servings | Prep Time |
| 10servings (3-3/4 quarts) | 20minutes |
| Cook Time |
| 6hours 20 minutes |
Ingredients
- 4 large stems Swiss chard or fresh baby spinach about 1/2 pound
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium red onion finely chopped
- 6 cups vegetable broth
- 2 cans fire-roasted diced tomatoes undrained, 14-1/2 ounces each
- 1 can kidney beans rinsed and drained, 16 ounces
- 1 can garbanzo beans or chickpeas rinsed and drained, 15 ounces
- 1 medium yellow summer squash or zucchini halved and cut into 1/4-inch slices
- 1 medium sweet red or yellow pepper finely chopped
- 1 medium carrot finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1-1/2 cups uncooked spiral pasta or small pasta shells
- 1/4 cup prepared pesto
- Optional toppings:
- Additional prepared pesto
- Shredded Parmesan cheese
- crushed red pepper flakes
- minced fresh basil
Portions: servings (3-3/4 quarts)
Units:
|
Ingredients
Portions: servings (3-3/4 quarts)
Units:
|
Instructions
- Cut stems from chard; chop stems and leaves separately. Reserve leaves for adding later. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and chard stems; cook and stir 3-5 minutes or until tender. Transfer to a 6-qt. slow cooker.
- Stir in broth, tomatoes, kidney beans, garbanzo beans, squash, pepper, carrot and garlic. Cook, covered, on low 6-8 hours, until vegetables are tender.
- Stir in pasta and reserved chard leaves. Cook, covered, on low 20-25 minutes longer, until pasta is tender; stir in pesto. If desired, serve with additional pesto, Parmesan cheese, red pepper flakes and fresh basil.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition Facts
1-1/2 cups: 231 calories, 7g fat (1g saturated fat), 2mg cholesterol, 1015mg sodium, 34g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 6g fibre), 9g protein.
