Italian · Starter · 1 h 5 min

Minestrone

Name: Minestrone
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 65 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 2 tbsp olive oil (plus a little for drizzling); 1 onion, finely chopped; 1 stalk celery stick, finely chopped; 1 carrot, peeled and finely diced; 1 courgette, finely diced; 60 g pancetta, diced (optional, leave out for a vegetarian version); 1 clove garlic, crushed; 0.5 tsp dried oregano; 400 g white beans (cannellini) (1 can, drained); 400 g canned chopped tomatoes; 2 tbsp tomato purée; 1.2 l vegetable stock; 1 bay leaf; 1 medium potato, cut into 1.5 cm cubes (about 150 g); 100 g green beans, cut into 2 cm pieces; 70 g small soup pasta (e.g. ditalini); 100 g kale, chard or cavolo nero, cut into strips; 1 handful basil; freshly grated Parmesan (to serve); salt and pepper (to taste)

Thick Italian vegetable soup with white beans, tomato, small pasta and fresh basil.

As of: 11 October 2026

Preparation

Heat the oil in a large pan over a low to medium heat. Gently fry the onion, celery, carrot, courgette and the pancetta, if using, for 10 minutes. Add the garlic and oregano and cook for 1 minute more.
Add the beans, tomatoes, tomato purée, stock and bay leaf, season with salt and pepper and bring to a simmer. After 20 minutes stir in the potato cubes and green beans and simmer for a further 10 minutes.
Add the pasta and the kale or chard and cook for about 10 minutes, until the pasta is tender.
Remove the bay leaf, taste the soup and ladle into bowls. Serve with basil, Parmesan and a drizzle of olive oil; bread goes well with it.

Drink with it

Red wine · excellent match
Young Chianti or another light Sangiovese
Cherry fruit and firm acidity keep up with the tomato broth, and low tannin does not clash with the beans and vegetables.
Which wine pairs with food? A simple approach to choosing
White wine · good match
Vermentino or Verdicchio
Fresh acidity and a slightly herbal note mirror the basil and green vegetables.
Pale lager · good match
Pale lager, not too cold
Little bitterness and soft fizz accompany beans and pasta without overpowering the soup.
Pils or Helles: What's the Difference?

With the same drinks

This pairs well too.

Italian · Starter · 1 h 5 min

Minestrone

Thick Italian vegetable soup with white beans, tomato, small pasta and fresh basil.

As of: 11 October 2026

Preparation

Heat the oil in a large pan over a low to medium heat. Gently fry the onion, celery, carrot, courgette and the pancetta, if using, for 10 minutes. Add the garlic and oregano and cook for 1 minute more.
Add the beans, tomatoes, tomato purée, stock and bay leaf, season with salt and pepper and bring to a simmer. After 20 minutes stir in the potato cubes and green beans and simmer for a further 10 minutes.
Add the pasta and the kale or chard and cook for about 10 minutes, until the pasta is tender.
Remove the bay leaf, taste the soup and ladle into bowls. Serve with basil, Parmesan and a drizzle of olive oil; bread goes well with it.

Drink with it

Red wine · excellent match
Young Chianti or another light Sangiovese
Cherry fruit and firm acidity keep up with the tomato broth, and low tannin does not clash with the beans and vegetables.
Which wine pairs with food? A simple approach to choosing
White wine · good match
Vermentino or Verdicchio
Fresh acidity and a slightly herbal note mirror the basil and green vegetables.
Pale lager · good match
Pale lager, not too cold
Little bitterness and soft fizz accompany beans and pasta without overpowering the soup.
Pils or Helles: What's the Difference?

With the same drinks

Minestrone

Preparation

Drink with it

Young Chianti or another light Sangiovese

Vermentino or Verdicchio

Pale lager, not too cold

This pairs well too.

Aubergine Parmigiana (Parmigiana di melanzane)

Aubergine Rolls with Mozzarella and Tomato Sauce

Black Bean Burger

Creamy Mushroom Soup

Minestrone

Preparation

Drink with it

Young Chianti or another light Sangiovese

Vermentino or Verdicchio

Pale lager, not too cold

This pairs well too.

Aubergine Parmigiana (Parmigiana di melanzane)

Aubergine Rolls with Mozzarella and Tomato Sauce

Black Bean Burger

Creamy Mushroom Soup