Minestrone Soup With Gluten Free Pasta

This hearty Italian Minestrone Soup With Gluten Free Pasta is full of healthy veggies and zesty herbs.

Minestrone Soup With Gluten Free Pasta

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This satisfying minestrone soup features a classic combination of fresh herbs, vegetables, white beans, and pasta.This dish is a great way to use up any extra fresh herbs and vegetables you have available. Although this recipe is delicious as written, don’t be afraid to experiment a bit with the ingredients. I used gluten-free fusilli here, but any variety will work. Here are a few gluten-free pasta options:


I like to make this soup in my dutch oven. I do, however, cook the pasta separately, rather than in the same pot with the rest of the ingredients. This extra step yields more consistent results by eliminating the release of excess starch into the soup, especially if you’re using gluten-free pasta. It also prevents the noodles from becoming too soft and mushy, which means more appetizing leftovers the next day and better results when freezing for future use.

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Minestrone Soup With Gluten Free Pasta
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Minestrone Soup With Gluten Free Pasta
Author:
Serves: 6-8
Ingredients
  • 3 T. extra virgin olive oil, divided
  • 2-3 cloves garlic, finely minced
  • ½ medium yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 3 medium carrots, finely chopped
  • 3 large stalks celery, finely chopped
  • 1 28-oz. can petite-diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 15.5 oz. can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
  • 4 c. organic vegetable broth*
2 whole bay leaves
  • 1 T. fresh rosemary leaves, finely chopped (or 1 t. dried)
  • 1 T. fresh thyme leaves (or 1 t. dried)
  • 1 T. fresh oregano leaves (or 1 t. dried)
  • ½ T. crushed red pepper flakes
  • Sea salt and black pepper, to taste
  • Optional: 3” Parmesan cheese rind
  • 2 c. Gluten-Free Fusilli pasta (or penne or rotini)
  • 2 c. fresh green beans, cut into ½” pieces
  • 2 c. fresh arugula
  • Optional Garnish: 
¼ c. fresh parsley leaves, chopped
  • Freshly grated Parmesan cheese 

* Use additional vegetable broth to reach desired consistency, if needed
Instructions
  1. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil and garlic in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sauté garlic, stirring occasionally, for 2-3 minutes or just until garlic starts to turn golden brown.

  2. Add chopped onion, carrot, and celery and cook for another 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until vegetables are soft and tender.

  3. Add diced tomatoes, cannellini beans, 4 cups vegetable broth, bay leaves, rosemary, thyme, oregano, and red pepper flakes to pot and stir to combine. Add Parmesan cheese rind, if desired, and season with salt and black pepper, to taste. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer 20-25 minutes.

  4. While soup is simmering, cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the cooking liquid before draining pasta. Rinse pasta and transfer to a medium bowl and toss with remaining olive oil. Cover and set aside.

  5. Remove cover from pot or Dutch oven and add green beans and the reserved pasta cooking liquid. Stir to combine and continue cooking, uncovered, another 20-25 minutes or until green beans are crisp tender.

  6. Add arugula and additional vegetable broth, if needed, and stir to combine. Season with additional salt and pepper, to taste. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until arugula begins to wilt.

  7. To serve, divide cooked pasta among individual serving bowls and top with hot soup. Top with chopped parsley and freshly grated Parmesan cheese, if desired. Serve with crusty bread and/or a crisp, green side salad for a hearty meal. Enjoy!

You may also like:
Dutch Oven Balsamic Chicken and Vegetables
Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo
Beef Chili Recipe

DON’T FORGET TO PIN AND SHARE!

This hearty Italian Minestrone Soup With Gluten Free Pasta is full of healthy veggies and zesty herbs.

This hearty Italian Minestrone Soup With Gluten Free Pasta is full of healthy veggies and zesty herbs.

This hearty Italian Minestrone Soup With Gluten Free Pasta is full of healthy veggies and zesty herbs.

 

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The Best Holiday Scented Candles

Spice up your home this winter with a delicious-smelling scented candle. Here’s my list of the best holiday scented candles that will bring a touch of warmth and spice to your home or office.

Best Holiday Scented Candles

Note: This post contains affiliate links.

The holidays are known for spicy and wintery smells, and what better way to cozy up your home or office than with holiday-scented candles. These make great gifts, too! Images are clickable. Descriptions are down below.

DESCRIPTIONS, FROM TOP LEFT TO RIGHT:

Williams Sonoma Scents of the Kitchen Candle Maple Glazed Doughnut • Williams-Sonoma • $22.95
Archipelago Botanicals Holiday Boxed Votive Candle • Archipelago Botanicals • $29.99
Illume Cider Woods Lidded Ceramic Candle • $26.99
Nest Fragrances Pumpkin Chai Scented Candle • NEST Fragrances • $40
WoodWick Holiday Mercury Glass Candle • $27.99
Williams Sonoma Spiced Chestnut Votive Set • Williams-Sonoma • $29.95
Voluspa – Maison Holiday 2 Wick Candle in Tin – Blanc de Blancs • Voluspa • £22
Nest Fragrances Festive Petite Candle Trio Set/4.5 oz. • NEST Fragrances • $60
16oz Double Wick Holiday Candle • $9.99
Illume Copper Leaves Lidded Ceramic Candle • $26.99
Bond No. 9 New York Perfume Scented Candle • Bond No.9 • $160
Aromatique Home Fragrance Medium Holiday Cube Candle • $20.99
Yankee Candle Christmas Cookie 12-oz. Candle Jar • Yankee Candle • $14.99
WoodWick Candle Holiday Gift Set • $27
Yankee Candle Holiday Pillar • Yankee Candle • $15.99
Yankee Candle Holiday 2 Wick Candle • Yankee Candle • $20.99
NEST Fragrances – Holiday Scented Candle, 230g – Colorless • NEST Fragrances • $40
Aroma Lab – Scented candle with cedar – Gift for DAD • $41

You may also like:

Pumpkin Inspired Fall and Autumn Kitchen Decor Finds
15 Thoughtful Gift Ideas For Wine Lovers
Holiday Gift Guide For The Cook
Baking Tools and Essentials

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Best Holiday Scented Candles

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Healthy Gingerbread Protein Smoothie

Classic holiday spices enhance and flavor this Healthy Gingerbread Protein Smoothie.

Healthy Gingerbread Protein Smoothie

Note: This post contains affiliate links for Amazon.

Ah! The warm and spicy flavors of gingerbread are a holiday favorite.  Whether you like yours in cookie form, bread, or brownies and bars, give this healthy gingerbread smoothie a try this season. It’s so easy to make.

I use unsweetened almond milk, although coconut milk (from a carton) will work, too. The secret ingredient that really kicks it over the top for that classic gingerbread flavor is molasses. You’ll need just a little, so don’t panic! Molasses is fairly strong in flavor, so a little goes a long way. I also like to use fresh ginger if I have it on hand, but ground ginger will do the trick, too. Ground cinnamon and cloves round out the spices that you’ll need.

Healthy Gingerbread Protein Smoothie

You may also enjoy this Fruit Smoothies Digital Recipe Card Bundle. Beautiful and colorful fruit smoothie recipes are available as digital downloads, sized in 4 x 6, for easy printing on your end. Five recipes are included in this downloadable PDF bundle. Each recipe is contained on one page. Learn more here.

There’s rarely a smoothie that I make that doesn’t have frozen banana in it. I always have frozen bananas in my freezer. You just peel the bananas, break them into bite size chunks (makes it easier on the blender!) and throw them in a ziplock bag and put it in the freezer. I typically have two or three bags in my freezer at a time since I make several smoothies during the day.  You’ll also need almond butter. This is another staple that usually ends up in my smoothies.

Since I make smoothies daily, I keep an abundance of frozen fruits in my freezer. For fresh fruits that are in season and that I want to freeze, or like bananas that I peel and break in half, I use these silicone reusable ziplock bags. Money-saver and eco-friendly!

I use my favorite high-powered blender to blend this smoothie in stages. A high-powered blender works best because those frozen fruits need to be pulverized, otherwise, it’s not a “smoothie,” it’s a “chunky,” and no one wants that!

Healthy Gingerbread Protein Smoothie

Add this yummy and healthy gingerbread protein smoothie to your morning rotation this holiday season. I actually make it throughout the year so it feels like Christmas even in July!

If you love the zing of ginger, you might be a fan of Moscow Mules. Check out these Holiday Moscow Mule recipe cards for season cocktails that include ginger beer. Beautiful and colorful holiday mule cocktail recipes are available as digital downloads, sized in 4 x 6, for easy printing on your end. Five recipes are included in this downloadable PDF bundle. Each recipe is contained on one page. Learn more here.

YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY:
Gift Guide for the Smoothie Lover
Cherry Vanilla Protein Smoothie
Peaches and Cream Protein Smoothie
Blueberry Pineapple Protein Smoothie

If you like these recipes, consider joining the Zesty Recipes Facebook Group. We’d love to have you!

Facebook Group Zesty Recipes

Healthy Gingerbread Protein Smoothie
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Healthy Gingerbread Protein Smoothie
Author:
Serves: 1 serving
Ingredients
  • 1 cup unsweetend almond milk
  • 1 whole frozen organic banana
  • 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
  • ¼ tsp organic ground cinnamon, or to taste*
  • ¼ tsp organic ground cloves, or to taste*
  • ⅓ tsp fresh ginger OR ⅓ tsp organic ground ginger, to taste*
  • 1 Tablespoon blackstrap molasses
  • 1 Tablespoon almond butter
  • *Ground spices can be adjusted according to your taste preference.
Instructions
  1. Note: This smoothie yields the best consistency if blended in stages.

  2. In a high-powdered blender, add almond milk, protein powder, ground spices and blend until combined.

  3. Add in almond butter and molasses and blend well.

  4. Add in frozen banana chunks and blend well.

  5. Pour into glass, garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon and enjoy!

DON’T FORGET TO PIN AND SHARE!

Classic holiday spices enhance and flavor this Healthy Gingerbread Protein Smoothie.

Healthy Gingerbread Protein Smoothie

Classic holiday spices enhance and flavor this Healthy Gingerbread Protein Smoothie.

Classic holiday spices enhance and flavor this Healthy Gingerbread Protein Smoothie.

Classic holiday spices enhance and flavor this Healthy Gingerbread Protein Smoothie.

Classic holiday spices enhance and flavor this Healthy Gingerbread Protein Smoothie.

Classic holiday spices enhance and flavor this Healthy Gingerbread Protein Smoothie.

Classic holiday spices enhance and flavor this Healthy Gingerbread Protein Smoothie.

 

Classic holiday spices enhance and flavor this Healthy Gingerbread Protein Smoothie.

Apple Cinnamon Protein Smoothie
Apple Cinnamon Protein Smoothie
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