Photo by Christopher Hirscheimer
This Tuscan Vegetable Soup is bursting with colorful vegetables, herbs, and white beans in a rich, tomato broth. It is a meal in a bowl with a long-cooked, hearty taste that can be made in about 30 minutes. Serve with some crusty whole-grain bread, and you have a perfect, ultra-satisfying meal.
Tuscan Vegetable Soup
Ingredients
1 (15-ounce) can low-sodium cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 large onion, diced (about 1 cup)
2 carrots, diced (about 1/2 cup)
2 stalks celery, diced, (about 1/2 cup)
1 small zucchini, diced (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves (or 1 teaspoon dried)
2 teaspoons chopped fresh sage leaves (or 1/2 teaspoon dried)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
32 ounces low-sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth
1 (14.5-ounce) can no salt added diced tomatoes
2 cups chopped baby spinach leaves
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan, optional
Directions
In a small bowl mash half of the beans with a masher or the back of a spoon, and set aside.
Heat the oil in a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion, carrots, celery, zucchini, garlic, thyme, sage, 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper, and cook stirring occasionally until the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes.
Add the broth and tomatoes with the juice and bring to a boil. Add the mashed and whole beans and the spinach leaves and cook until the spinach is wilted, about 3 minutes more.
Serve topped with Parmesan, if desired.
Makes 6 servings
Serving size: 1 1/2 cups
Per serving: Calories 145; Total fat 4g (Sat fat 0.5g); Protein 8g; Carb 21g; Fiber 5g; Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 306mg; Sugars 5g
