Skip to content

Classic Minestrone Soup Con Pesto Alla Genovese

This vegetable-rich soup is healthy and delicious. It's the perfect comfort food for chilly days in early fall. A dollop of homemade pesto brings all the flavours together beautifully.
Serves: 10
Prep Time: 15 min
Cook Time: 40 min

Ingredients

¼ cup olive oil
2 leek(s), light green and white part, sliced
8 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup baby carrots
2 stalks celery, sliced
3 bay leaves
8 cups low-sodium chicken broth
3 cups chicken, cooked, diced
1 can canned diced tomatoes, with liquid
1 cup low-sodium canned navy beans, well rinsed
2 cups eggplant, diced
1 cup green cabbage, chopped
or
1 cup Savoy cabbage, chopped
1 tsp thyme, fresh, minced
2 cups whole wheat rotini
½ cup parsley, fresh
½ cup basil, fresh
¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
¼ tsp sea salt

Food Safety

Before you start, wash all surfaces and your hands with soap and warm water, and remember to wash your hands, utensils and cutting boards after they touch raw meat or eggs. Avoid cross-contamination by using a different cutting board for your meat and other ingredients. Make sure you’re cooking to safe temperatures and chilling any leftovers within two hours. For more food safety tips, visit our Food Safety at Home Section.

Steps

  1. To make soup, heat 2 Tbsp (30 mL) olive oil over medium heat in a large soup pot. Sauté leeks, 6 cloves of garlic, celery, carrots and bay leaves. Cook for about 10 minutes until vegetables are softened.

  2. Add chicken broth, cooked chicken, tomatoes and juice, beans and eggplant. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for about 20 minutes.

  3. Add cabbage, thyme and pasta and simmer with lid on for about 10 minutes or until pasta is al dente. Don’t overcook the pasta.

  4. To make pesto, puree parsley, basil, remaining 2 cloves of garlic, parmesan cheese, olive oil and salt in food processor or blender.

  5. Serve each bowl of soup with a teaspoon of pesto on top.

Nutrition Info

Per 420 g serving Amount
Calories260
Protein23 g
Fat9 g
Saturated Fat2 g
Carbohydrate24 g
Fibre5 g
Sugar6 g
Cholesterol35 mg
Sodium400 mg
Per 420 g serving % Daily Value
Potassium16
Calcium10
Iron15
Vitamin A50
Vitamin C45
Vitamin B623
Vitamin B1218
Folate24
Zinc11