Gluten Free Minestrone Soup with Pesto Croutons Recipe

I just love soup! I have been known to eat it for lunch, dinner, and even breakfast! Soup fills my belly and warms my soul.

During the winter I make big pots of hearty soup. It is such a time saver even though soup needs to simmer for a while. It doesn’t take much attention while simmering away and leftovers just get better in the fridge.

Minestrone is usually made in the summer with fresh tomatoes, zucchini and beans. This is a winter version that uses butternut squash, carrots, cannellini beans and gluten free penne.

I use organic veggies and beans, fortified gluten free penne from Pastariso, nitrate free bacon, and organic chicken broth. This soup is not just hearty, it’s healthy!

To make the soup more of a meal, I serve it with simple to make pesto croutons. I love the crunch of the toasted bread cubes and the freshness of the pesto. I also like to add just a grating of Parmesan cheese on each bowl.

For a vegan version, omit the bacon (just sauté the veggies in 2 tablespoons of olive oil) and omit the cheese and croutons.

So what’s for dinner tonight? Soup!

No ratings yet

Print Recipe

Gluten Free Minestrone Soup with Pesto Croutons Recipe

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time1 hr 21 mins

Total Time1 hr 36 mins

Course: Soup

Cuisine: Italian

Author: Gluten Free & More

Ingredients

• ▢ 4 slices nitrate free bacon
• ▢ 1½ cups diced onions 1 large onion
• ▢ 2 cups carrots thickly sliced 3 large carrots cut into ½ inch chunks
• ▢ 2½ cups diced butternut squash 1 small butternut squash, peeled and cut into ½ inch chunks
• ▢ 4 cloves garlic chopped
• ▢ 4 thyme sprigs
• ▢ 1 can 28 ounces organic crushed tomatoes in puree
• ▢ 6 cups gluten free organic chicken broth
• ▢ 2 teaspoons kosher or fine sea salt
• ▢ 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• ▢ ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• ▢ 2 bay leaves
• ▢ 8 ounces gluten free penne
• ▢ 1 (15.5 ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
• ▢ 5 ounces organic spinach leaves
• ▢ 4 slices gluten free sandwich bread each slice about ½ inch thick
• ▢ 3 tablespoons basil pesto
• ▢ 2 tablespoons olive oil
• ▢ Parmesan cheese - optional

Instructions

• ▢
  Chop the bacon and put into a large, cold stockpot. Turn heat to medium and cook the bacon, stirring occasionally, until the bacon fat is rendered and the bacon is starting to brown, about 6 minutes. Add the onions, carrots, squash, garlic, and thyme sprigs. Cook over medium heat until the onions are softened, about 8 minutes. Add the tomatoes, chicken broth, salt, black and red peppers, and bay leaves. Raise heat to high, bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes or until the vegetables are fork tender.
• ▢
  While the soup is simmering, bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Add the penne and cook according to the package directions (about 7 minutes.) Drain the pasta and rinse under hot water.
• ▢
  Make the croutons. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut the bread into cubes (9 cubes per slice of bread). In a mixing bowl, combine the pesto and olive oil. Add the bread cubs and toss gently until the bread is fully coated. Lay in a single layer on a baking sheet and cook for 10 minutes.
• ▢
  Once the soup has simmered for 30 minutes and the veggies are tender, remove the bay leaves and thyme sprigs, add the pasta and beans and heat through. Add the spinach and stir into the soup. Cook just until the spinach is wilted.
• ▢
  To serve, ladle the soup into bowls, top with some croutons and a grating of Parmesan cheese if desired.

The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the blog owner’s. This blog accepts free manufacturers’ samples and forms of cash advertising, sponsorship, paid insertions or other forms of compensation. Affiliate links may be included in this post.

Have you tried this recipe? Give it a star rating and let us know your thoughts in the Ratings & Reviews section below.