Minestrone Soup

Ingredients

• 1 small onion about 1/3 cup, diced
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1 medium carrot about 1 cup, chopped
• 1 celery stalk large, about 1 cup, chopped
• 2 teaspoons dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 3/4 teaspoon dried thyme
• 32 ounces diced tomatoes I usually use fire-roasted or Italian-style
• 3 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 low sodium vegetable broth 32 oz carton - 4 cups
• 1 medium zucchini around 2/3 cups, sliced into halves or quarters
• 1/4 cup red kidney beans canned or cooked, drained and rinsed, leave out for paleo & low carb
• 1/4 cup cannellini beans canned or cooked, chickpeas OR great northern beans, drained and rinsed, leave out for paleo & low carb
• water add only as much as needed to cover vegetables
• 1/4 cup small shell pasta dried, use gluten free if necessary, leave out for paleo & low carb and add chopped cauliflower & green bean…
• 1 cup baby spinach fresh, chopped, optional
• 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar optional but adds great flavor
• grated Parmesan cheese or Shredded, for serving
• fresh parsley finely chopped, for garnish, optional

Nutrition

• Calories : 70 calories
• Carbohydrate : 12 grams
• Cholesterol : 5 milligrams
• Fat : 1 grams
• Fiber : 2 grams
• Protein : 4 grams
• Sodium : 100 milligrams
• Sugar : 6 grams