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winter minestrone

(4 ratings)
bakeratheart avatar
Blue Ribbon Recipe by
Beth Streeter
@bakeratheart
Easton, PA

My 8-year-old daughter, who hates healthy food, LOVES this soup. It's inexpensive to make and freezes wonderfully.

Blue Ribbon Recipe

There's nothing better than soup on a cold day, and this minestrone recipe will warm ya right up! It has a wonderful balance of flavors and textures with the sweetness of the carrots and tomatoes, the saltiness of the ham and cheese, the freshness of the kale and herbs, and the chewiness of wheat berries.

— The Test Kitchen @kitchencrew
(4 ratings)
yield 10 -12
prep time 45 Min
cook time 45 Min
method Stove Top

Ingredients For winter minestrone

  • 1 Tbsp
    olive oil
  • 4 stalk
    green onions, chopped
  • 1 stalk
    celery, chopped
  • 4 oz
    deli ham, finely chopped
  • 3 lg
    carrots, chopped
  • 1/2 lb
    kale, chopped
  • 1
    Parmesan cheese rind
  • 1/2 tsp
    salt
  • 1 dash
    coarsely ground black pepper
  • 1 c
    wheat berries, rinsed
  • 3 c
    water
  • 6 c
    chicken broth
  • 1 tsp
    dried basil
  • 1 can
    diced tomatoes (14 oz)

How To Make winter minestrone

Test Kitchen Tips
If you can't find wheat berries, barley is a great substitute (you just may need more stock if the soup becomes too thick).
  • Sauteeing onions, carrots, and ham.
    1
    Heat oil in a large pot. Add onions, celery, carrots, and ham. Saute for 10 minutes.
  • Broth, water wheat berries, Parmesan rind, and seasonings added to the pot.
    2
    Add water, broth, wheat berries, cheese rind, salt and pepper. Then bring to a boil.
  • Simmering the soup.
    3
    Reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for 30 minutes or until wheat berries are tender.
  • Stirring in tomatoes and kale.
    4
    Stir in tomatoes and kale. Cook until thoroughly heated.
  • A spoonful of Winter Minestrone.
    5
    Just a note, if you have kidney beans or other veggies that need to be used, add them. If you can't find wheat berries, use barley instead. Enjoy!
  • Last Step: Don't forget to share! Make all your friends drool by posting a picture of your finished recipe on your favorite social network. And don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes so we can see it too!
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