Vegetarian minestrone

This hearty, vegetable-filled soup is warm and soothing, but light enough to not make you feel weighed down as you’re out enjoying these beautiful days.

Ingredients

Instructions

1. Dice the onion, mince the garlic, and slice the carrots. Add the olive oil, onion, garlic, and carrots to a large soup pot. Saute over medium heat until the onions become soft and translucent (about
   5 minutes).
2. Add the tomato paste to the pot and continue to saute for
   2-3 minutes more, or until the tomato paste begins to coat the bottom of the pot (do not let it burn).
3. Rinse and drain the kidney beans and chickpeas, and then add them to the pot along with the diced tomatoes (with juices), Italian seasoning, and vegetable broth. Give everything a good stir, place a lid on top, and allow it to come up to a simmer. Allow the soup to simmer for
   20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. While the soup is simmering, slice the zucchini into quarter-rounds. After the soup has simmered for
   20 minutes, add the sliced zucchini and frozen green beans (no need to thaw first). Stir and simmer the soup for an additional
   5-10 minutes, or until the zucchini just begin to soften.
5. Finish the soup by adding lemon juice and chopped parsley. Give it a taste and add extra salt if needed. Serve hot with crusty bread for dipping!

Nutrition