Description
A comforting Italian soup featuring beans, pasta, and aromatic herbs in a savory broth, perfect for any night of the week.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 2 Tbsp olive oil (divided)
- 1 ½ cups chopped yellow onion
- 1 cup diced carrots
- 1 cup diced celery
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 3 cans tomato sauce
- 2 cans low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 can diced tomatoes
- 1 cup dry ditalini pasta
- 2 cans dark red kidney beans (drained and rinsed)
- 2 tsp granulated sugar
- 1 ½ tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ¾ tsp dried thyme
- ½ tsp dried marjoram
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
- 3 Tbsp minced fresh parsley
Instructions
- In a large pot, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, browning it while breaking it apart as it cooks. Once browned, drain the excess fat from the pot.
- Add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil to the pot. Then, toss in the chopped onions, diced carrots, and celery. Sauté the vegetables for about 6 minutes until they are tender. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute to release its aromatic flavors.
- Pour in the low-sodium chicken broth, tomato sauce, and diced tomatoes, then mix thoroughly. Add the sugar along with the dried herbs: basil, oregano, thyme, and marjoram. Season the mixture with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Return the browned beef to the pot, bring everything to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for 15-20 minutes to meld the flavors.
- While the soup simmers, cook ditalini pasta in a separate pot until al dente, then drain well. Add the cooked pasta and both types of beans to the soup, cooking for another minute to warm everything through. Stir in minced fresh parsley just before serving.
Notes
For a richer flavor, consider adding a splash of red wine to the broth. Customize the vegetables with bell peppers or zucchini for extra nutrition.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 875mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 54g
- Fiber: 10g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 65mg