Healthy Minestrone

Happy New Year! If eating healthy is part of your New Years Resolution list, try making this soup this week. It's filling and delicious so it doesn't feel like diet food, but it's super healthy, loaded with vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains. One of my most favorite meals is soup and salad--especially for dinner, when you really don't need a large meal. Try a bowl of this with a nice side salad. Pretty soon, you'll forget why you were eating all those burgers, fries, and pizza when eating this way makes you feel so good. New Year, New You!

1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 shallot, minced
2 leeks, washed well and sliced into half moons (use only tender parts)
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 carrots, peeled and chopped
4 celery stalks, chopped
1 cup green beans, trimmed and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 Tablespoon MSG-free chicken bouillon
1/2 Tablespoon dry Italian seasoning, rubbed in palm to release oils
1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
3/4 cup whole wheat elbow macaroni
salt and pepper
Parmesan cheese (optional)

1. Put a large pot over medium heat. Add oil and let heat for about 30 seconds. Add shallot, leeks, a pinch of salt, and a few grinds of pepper. Stir occasionally, cooking until shallots are translucent and leeks are limp. Add garlic, stirring occasionally, for about 30 seconds. (Make sure the garlic doesn't brown--if it starts to, just jump to the next step.)

2. Add carrots and cook for 1 minutes. Add the celery and green beans, cook for 30 seconds. Add a pinch of salt and a few grinds of pepper. Add the broth, the bouillon, and the Italian seasoning. Raise heat to high and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. When the broth has reached a boil, reduce heat to medium-low and add beans. Let simmer 10 minutes. Add the macaroni and simmer until pasta is al dente (look at pasta packaging for time amounts). Taste and add salt and pepper if needed.

3. (Optional) With a microplane or fine grater, grate a little bit of parmesan cheese over the hot soup. Enjoy!


Serves 6-8.

Printable version here.