James Martin Minestrone Soup

This James Martin Minestrone Soup is a hearty Italian-style vegetable soup with a rich tomato base, tender vegetables, and comforting pasta. The texture is thick but spoonable, packed with flavour from slow-simmered vegetables and herbs. It is an easy, one-pot recipe that suits confident beginners and experienced cooks alike. From start to finish, it takes about 45 minutes, making it perfect for a nourishing midweek meal.

Ingredients

For the soup base

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 2 carrots, diced
• 2 celery sticks, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed

For the vegetables and beans

• 1 courgette, diced
• 1 potato, peeled and diced
• 400g chopped tomatoes
• 1 tbsp tomato purée
• 1 litre vegetable stock
• 400g tin cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

For finishing

• 75g small pasta shapes, such as ditalini or small shells
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• Fresh parsley or basil, finely chopped
• Parmesan cheese, grated, to serve

How to Make James Martin Minestrone Soup

• Prepare the base: Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, and celery. Cook gently for 8 to 10 minutes until softened but not browned.
• Add the garlic: Stir in the crushed garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant, taking care not to let it burn.
• Add vegetables and tomatoes: Tip in the courgette, potato, chopped tomatoes, and tomato purée. Stir well so everything is evenly coated.
• Simmer the soup: Pour in the vegetable stock and add the dried oregano. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cook for 20 minutes until the vegetables are tender.
• Add beans and pasta: Stir in the cannellini beans and pasta. Simmer for a further 8 to 10 minutes, or until the pasta is just cooked.
• Season and finish: Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Stir through fresh herbs just before serving.

Tips

Why is my minestrone too thick?

Minestrone thickens as it stands because of the pasta. Add a splash of hot stock or water to loosen it before serving.

How do I boost the flavour?

Let the soup simmer gently rather than boiling hard. This helps the vegetables release their natural sweetness.

Can I make it vegetarian or vegan?

This recipe is already vegetarian. To keep it vegan, simply leave out the Parmesan or use a plant-based alternative.

Serving Suggestions

• Serve with crusty bread or garlic bread
• Top with freshly grated Parmesan
• Add a drizzle of good olive oil before serving

Storage

Room temperature

Allow the soup to cool, then transfer to the fridge within 2 hours. Do not leave at room temperature for longer.

Refrigerator

Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the hob, adding extra stock if needed.

Freezing

Freeze without the pasta for best results, for up to 3 months. Add freshly cooked pasta when reheating.

Nutrition

• Calories: 280 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 38 g
• Protein: 11 g
• Fat: 8 g
• Saturated fat: 1.5 g
• Sodium: 620 mg

Nutrition values are estimates and may vary depending on ingredients used.

FAQs

James Martin Minestrone Soup

Recipe by Milli RoseCourse: MainCuisine: ItalianDifficulty: Easy

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

30

minutes

Cooking time

40

minutes

Calories

300

kcal

Total time

1

hour 

10

minutes

A hearty James Martin-style minestrone soup made with vegetables, beans, pasta, and a rich tomato broth. Comforting, nourishing, and easy to prepare.

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• 1 large onion, chopped

• 2 carrots, diced

• 2 celery sticks, diced

• 2 garlic cloves, crushed

• 1 courgette, diced

• 1 potato, diced

• 400g chopped tomatoes

• 1 tbsp tomato purée

• 1 litre vegetable stock

• 400g cannellini beans

• 75g small pasta

• 1 tsp dried oregano

• Salt and black pepper

Directions

• Heat olive oil and soften onion, carrots, and celery.
• Add garlic and cook briefly.
• Stir in vegetables, tomatoes, and tomato purée.
• Pour in stock and simmer until vegetables are tender.
• Add beans and pasta and cook until pasta is tender.
• Season and finish with fresh herbs before serving.

Notes

• Add extra stock when reheating if needed.
• Freeze without pasta for best texture.
• Finish with Parmesan for extra flavour.