Winter Minestrone With Butternut Squash (Printable)

A hearty Italian soup with butternut squash, kale, beans, and pasta in a savory tomato broth.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
02 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
03 - 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
04 - 2 celery stalks, diced
05 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
06 - 1 small butternut squash (approximately 1.5 pounds), peeled and diced
07 - 1 medium zucchini, diced
08 - 1 cup chopped fresh kale, stems removed
09 - 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes with juices

→ Legumes and Grains

10 - 1 can (15 ounces) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
11 - 0.5 cup small pasta such as ditalini or elbow macaroni

→ Liquids

12 - 6 cups vegetable broth
13 - 1 cup water

→ Spices and Seasonings

14 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
15 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
16 - 0.5 teaspoon dried rosemary
17 - 0.25 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional
18 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Finishing

19 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
20 - Grated Parmesan cheese for serving, optional

# Directions:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté for 5 to 6 minutes until vegetables soften.
02 - Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add butternut squash and zucchini to the pot. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes while stirring occasionally.
04 - Pour in diced tomatoes with juices, vegetable broth, and water. Bring mixture to a boil.
05 - Stir in oregano, thyme, rosemary, and red pepper flakes. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes.
06 - Add cannellini beans and pasta to the pot. Simmer for 8 to 10 minutes until pasta and squash reach tender consistency.
07 - Stir in chopped kale and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until wilted. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
08 - Remove from heat and stir in fresh parsley.
09 - Ladle soup into bowls and top with grated Parmesan cheese if desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The butternut squash turns into tender velvet in the tomato broth, adding natural sweetness that balances the acidity perfectly
  • Everything cooks in one pot, making it ideal for those nights when you want something nourishing but absolutely no cleanup drama
02 -
  • Pasta continues absorbing liquid as it sits, so if you're making this ahead, cook pasta separately and stir it in when reheating or your soup becomes a stew
  • Adding a Parmesan rind during simmering transforms the broth into something restaurant worthy, just fish it out before serving
03 -
  • Cut all your vegetables roughly the same size so each spoonful gets a little bit of everything
  • Don't skip the red pepper flakes even if you're sensitive to heat they make the other flavors sing without making the soup spicy
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