Yields 6 servings
I was in a bit of bind a few days ago when it came time for dinner. My daughter had a doctor’s appointment and then her/our very first play date. Usually dinner is on the stove by 9am, just in case the day escapes me, like this day did. So, we got home and I opened the fridge and let my right brain win the battle. My left brain knew I needed to boost immunity (for my daughter as well) and I often think of soup when I think of boosting immunity. But the left brain makes making soup complicated, so enter the right brain.
As long as you have mire poix (onions, carrots and celery) in the fridge you’re good to go. I took those out along with the fennel and parsley and got to cutting. Instead of making 1/4″ dice for the mire poix (yes, I love to practice my knife skills) I chose bigger more decorative cuts since these would be the stars of the soup. Read on to see how this improvised soup came to life.
There are many variations of this Italian soup, but one thing is constant: tomatoes. Tomatoes are now famous for their abundance of the anti-oxidant lycopene. However, they are crazy abundant in MANY anti-oxidants, including the more common Vitamin C, Vitamin E and beta carotene. They’re also off the charts when it comes to their phytonutrient content. Tomatoes are stellar performers when it comes to our cardiovascular health; they have been linked to reduced heart disease risk, lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels. And they have anti-carcinogenic properties! Wow, tomato! (There is such a thing as too much of a good thing however, so before you OD on them, make sure you eat them in a balanced way, i.e. cooked and raw and with other foods and varying spices and herbs.)
Oh, and yes I am aware this is the second minestrone I put up on these pages, but it is just such a simple and delicious soup that can be adapted for every season. Trust me, this one should be a staple.
What I had:
2-3 T extra virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, diced (about 1/2″)
2 medium carrots, chopped (about 1/2″ rounds)
2 celery stalks, cut on bias (about 1/4″)
1 small fennel, diced (about 1/4″)
1/2 t dried oregano
1 15oz can of whole tomatoes with juices (I used half of a San Marzano can), diced
1/2 C short grain brown rice, rinsed
1 veggie bouillon, (no salt added)
1 1″ piece of kombu
6 C water (or if using veg stock, omit the bouillon)
a handful of parsley, roughly chopped
Parmigiano Reggiano, shaved or grated
Sea salt, to taste
How I made it:
1. Heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add onions and a pinch of salt and cook for 5 minutes until tender. Add carrots, celery and oregano and cook for 5-7 more minutes until very fragrant and tender.
2. Add tomatoes with juices and then add rice. Let cook and simmer together for a few minutes just to let the flavors get acquainted. Add bouillon and water and partially cover. Cook for about 30-40 minutes until the rice is done and soup is a bit thicker in texture.
3. To serve, ladle soup into bowls and top with shaved Parmigiano and parsley. Serve with some country bread. (Of course not all that bread in pic above was for me!)
4. Enjoy, enjoy!