hearty minestrone

How To Make hearty minestrone

• Step 1
  Heat 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a large stock-pot over medium to medium-low heat.
• Step 2
  Add onion to the pot, and sauté the onion for 1 to 1-1/2 minutes.
• Step 3
  Add the garlic, and sauté the garlic for 1 minute.
• Step 4
  Add the remaining tablespoon of vegetable oil to the pot, plus the celery and carrots, and sauté the vegetables for 2 minutes.
• Step 5
  Add the chicken broth, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, kidney beans, great northern beans, potatoes, chicken bouillon granules, oregano, basil, salt and pepper.
• Step 6
  Cover the pot, bring soup to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer, and simmer the soup covered, for 30 minutes. (I stir the soup once or twice while it's simmering.)
• Step 7
  While the soup is simmering, in a small saucepan, add water to it, plus a little bit of vegetable oil, and a 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Bring water to a boil, then add the pasta.
• Step 8
  Once the water comes to a second boil, which doesn't take long, cook the shells for 8 minutes; stirring the pasta frequently.
• Step 9
  Once the pasta is cooked, drain pasta in a colander, and gently rinse it under cold water. Drain well, then set the pasta aside, covered, until it's time to add it to the stock-pot.
• Step 10
  After the soup has simmered for 30 minutes, add the cooked pasta and the spinach. Stir the soup, and then ladle the soup in to bowls.
• Step 11
  Top each bowl of soup with a bit of the parmesan cheese, if desired.
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