Apparently it’s officially spring as of last Sunday. It certainly felt that way in Austin, where it was 85 degrees and sunny, but then when we got home to Northern California it 47 degrees and pouring rain. So not cool.
This soup is perfect for those drippy, cool can’t-decide-whether-it’s-winter-or-spring days. It’s chock-full of things that are green and good for you, like rainbow chard, sugar snap peas, fennel and leek. I like to eat healthy meals like this once in a while so I don’t feel so bad about stuffing myself with this for dessert. Duh.
You wanna know the best part of this soup? And no, it’s not all the magical health properties of the vegetables or the protein from the beans and peas.
It’s clearly the fact that I used whole wheat alphabet pasta! How awesome is that? I love spontaneous regressions into childhood.
This soup is perfect made after a trip to the farmers market or…Whole Foods. All of the green veggies used are in season right now and I gave the soup a California twist by adding a roasted poblano pepper.
I served my soup with a generous heap of freshly grated Parmesan and a squeeze of lemon. Hello, Spring!
Springtime Minestrone
serves 4
Ingredients:
1 T extra virgin olive oil
1 leek, sliced thin
1 quart chicken or vegetable stock
1 bulb fennel, chopped
1 cup small pasta (such as alphabet or orzo)
1 can cannellini beans, rinsed
1 large bunch rainbow chard, roughly chopped
1/4 lb sugar snap peas, chopped in half
1 cup frozen green peas
1 poblano pepper
1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
fresh grated Parmesan for serving
squeeze of lemon for serving
Directions:
Roast the poblano pepper either over the flame on your stove (if you have a gas stove) or under the broiler until black and charred. Set aside to cool and then remove the seeds and chop.
Heat the olive oil over medium high heat in a large pot or dutch oven. Add the leek and cook for five minutes, until the leek is bright green and soft.
Add the stock and the pasta and bring to a simmer. Let cook for another five minutes and then add the sugar snap peas, fennel, chard, beans, salt and pepper. Simmer for only a couple of minutes before adding the roasted poblano pepper, peas and mint. Continue cooking until pasta is just tender.
Ladle soup into bowls and serve with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and a squeeze of lemon.
Time:
30 minutes (including prep time)
megan @ blackberries for jam
March 22, 2011 at 5:05 amI’ve been eating lots of spring-y foods in an attempt to beckon spring in Vermont, but it’s just not working. This soup looks like a great opportunity to continue my efforts!
Heather (Heather's Dish)
March 22, 2011 at 5:07 amthe fact that this dish boasts poblanos makes my heart swell! i love soup even into the summer, so this is going to be on the menu a lot
Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday
March 22, 2011 at 5:10 amYeah, the alphabets totally ARE the best part of the soup!
Reminds me of playing euchre with my family for alphabets cereal as a kid 😀
Amanda
March 22, 2011 at 5:12 amI love minestrone soup! This looks so delicious! 🙂
Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat
March 22, 2011 at 5:18 amI LOVE that alphabet pasta!! So cute and it reminds me of being a kid. Minestrone is one of my favourites because of all the veggies and nutritional goodness. Great recipe for this time of year! 🙂
Charise
March 22, 2011 at 5:31 amThis sounds so good. I love it when you post more savory recipes!
Lauren at Keep It Sweet
March 22, 2011 at 5:38 amThis looks delicious!
Stacy @ Every Little Thing
March 22, 2011 at 5:40 amThis is exactly what I’ve been looking for. Yum, love all the veggies topped with parm!
Amy
March 22, 2011 at 5:41 amOooh, the minestrone is beautiful! 🙂
Maryea @ Happy Healthy Mama
March 22, 2011 at 5:41 amThis looks great. I love that you used alphabet pasta! Maybe I could even get my little one to eat it. 🙂
Christie {Nourishing Eats}
March 22, 2011 at 5:42 amThis is the second recipe for spring time minestrone I have seen today! Spring is here, hoooray!!
Jessica @ How Sweet
March 22, 2011 at 5:43 amThis soups sounds so good. Love the mint!
Christina
March 22, 2011 at 5:44 amLOVE the alphabet soup. Minestrone soup is one my favorites- will be making this soon.
Beth @ Beth's Journey to Thin
March 22, 2011 at 5:45 amWow this soup looks unbelievable! Love the lettered pasta – reminds me of my childhood!
Hannah (Culture Connoisseur)
March 22, 2011 at 5:47 amYou know, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a soup like this. So unique! I can’t wait to give it a try.
P.S. The alphabets are just adorable.
Jen @ keepitsimplefoods
March 22, 2011 at 5:48 amOooh, I love springtime soups! In fact, I posted one on my blog just today! 🙂
Laughter-Loving Stacy
March 22, 2011 at 5:48 amHa, ha! Love the use of alphabet noodles! This sounds really good, definitely on my MAKE ASAP list. 🙂
Emily
March 22, 2011 at 5:56 amYum!! So green and bright, can’t wait to try it 🙂
Estela @ Weekly Bite
March 22, 2011 at 6:03 amLove all the colors in this soup! Sounds perfect for early Spring 🙂
rebecca lustig
March 22, 2011 at 6:06 amoh, this is SOOO a perfect recipe! Yum
Jenny
March 22, 2011 at 6:29 amI love all of the veggies in this! LOOks so fresh and light!:)
Spicy Bohemian
March 22, 2011 at 6:36 amOoooh, this looks so simple and yummy! Very springish. 🙂 Can’t wait to try it!!
dee
March 22, 2011 at 6:43 amI absolutely love that you used alphabet pasta! And whole wheat to boot. You rock!
Elizabeth@The Sweet Life
March 22, 2011 at 7:00 amOh yum. Totally, utterly gorgeous.
Sarah @ The Strength of Faith
March 22, 2011 at 7:10 amI live in Connecticut and it snowed yesterday. Awesome start to spring.
amy walters, aDESIGNdock
March 22, 2011 at 7:11 amYummy, this looks so delicious. I love homemade soups, but am usually scared of trying them. However, I might just have to get over my fears and tackle this recipe. It looks amazing!
R Chandra
March 22, 2011 at 7:14 amyou take such beautiful pictures, Jenna! i love your composition.
minestrone is my soup-of-choice. thanks for the recipe!
Lucy @ The Sweet Touch
March 22, 2011 at 7:39 amI think it’s safe to say I love every flavor in this soup minus the fennel but I’m guessing it would still be good without due to all the other goodies!
PS. Love the little ELR reference in the alphabet pasta pic:)
Katie @ Nourishing Flourishing
March 22, 2011 at 7:44 amThis looks delicious — particularly after I read that you added poblanos! I’m still a little uneasy around mint in savory dishes, but my goal this summer is to tackle that fear. Inspiration.
Lucy
March 22, 2011 at 7:50 amSorry if this posts twice, not sure if my first one went through. I was just saying I love every flavor in this soup except maybe the fennel which I’m sure I could leave out and still enjoy all the other goodies!
PS. I love the little ELR reference in the alphabet pasta pic:)
Baking 'n' Books
March 22, 2011 at 1:09 pmThanks for pointing that out! That is cute 🙂
Looks very clean and green.
But I admit – you only won me over with “Parmesan”….I know that’s so wrong…
Kalynskitchen
March 22, 2011 at 7:57 amWhat a lovely soup; looks perfect for those in-between spring days!
Tracey @ I'm Not Superhuman
March 22, 2011 at 8:32 amThis looks great. I love that you used alphabet pasta. It brings back fond memories of childhood.
Katherine: Unemployed
March 22, 2011 at 8:36 amdoes that box say kids only? oh no they didn’t…
Michelle | GOLD-HEARTED GIRL
March 22, 2011 at 8:55 amIt’s so colorful! I can’t wait to make this. And I loooove your anthropologie bowl. 🙂 Those are my fave.
Moni'sMeals
March 22, 2011 at 8:59 amYES Please, how colorful is this…can it get any better. Wow.
That would go great with the grilled cheese!
Justeen @ Blissful Baking
March 22, 2011 at 9:05 amThis soup looks absolute deeelicious! Love the springtime veggies!
Nancy~the wife of a dairyman
March 22, 2011 at 9:26 amThat soup looks beautiful! Love all the bright green:) Sounds like it’s delicious as well and need to try it myself:)
chelsey @ clean eating chelsey
March 22, 2011 at 9:27 amThis looks so good – and the lemon must give it that spring freshness we’re all craving!!
Heather @ Health, Happines, and Hope
March 22, 2011 at 9:32 amLove all the colors in this soup and how cute with the alphabet noodles! 🙂 Great recipe!
Natalia - a side of simple
March 22, 2011 at 9:43 amMaking this will only further justify my baking attempts and replication of the world’s best grilled cheese sandwich, right? Bathing suit season can totally wait.
🙂
Laura @ prettylittlewords
March 22, 2011 at 9:51 amI was JUST thinking about how much I was craving a big tasty bowl of minestrone! Yum — can’t wait to make this! 🙂
Laura
March 22, 2011 at 9:53 amGiven that we’re supposed to get up to 12 inches of snow here tonight I could use any reminder that spring is near that I can get!
I love the alphabet pasta! So cute 🙂
Jen
March 22, 2011 at 10:02 amWhen does the fennel go in? I’d like to make this tonight 😀
jenna
March 22, 2011 at 11:37 amsorry! fixed that! You add it in with the chard and the beans 🙂
Heather @ Get Healthy with Heather
March 22, 2011 at 10:02 amSo much green, I love it! Definitely delicious and made fun with the alphabet pasta!
Kristen @ Chocolate Covered Kristen
March 22, 2011 at 10:07 amYum – that soup has my name written all over it!
Kristen @ Chocolate Covered Kristen
March 22, 2011 at 10:07 amYum – that soup has my name written all over it!
salah (My Healthiest Lifestyle)
March 22, 2011 at 10:10 amthis minestrone looks sooo great!
Jen
March 22, 2011 at 10:20 amHow adorable is the alphabet pasta! I love it. I will have to make this for one of my group dinners when it’s my turn to bring soup. Thanks for the recipe!
Beth @ DiningAndDishing
March 22, 2011 at 10:28 amPeas, lemon and parmesan together scream spring to me! Reminds me of the Barefoot Contessas spring risotto. I absolutely LOVE the combination! 🙂
Melissa @ Journey to Marvelous
March 22, 2011 at 10:42 amThis soup looks FANTASTIC! I’m going to make it this weekend after a trip to the farmers market! Thanks for sharing.
Meghan @ StruggleMuffins
March 22, 2011 at 10:46 amThis looks so yummy – today would be the perfect day for it (its gloomy here in Massachusetts – a total soupworthy day). Love the alphabet pasta!
Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga)
March 22, 2011 at 10:53 amI love the alphabet pasta…it would please my preschooler to know she could eat her letters 🙂
Great soup, great pictures! I love the vibrancy of the green, Jenna.
Katie@FabFitFull
March 22, 2011 at 10:55 amI LOVE the whole wheat alphabet pasta! where did you get it??
jenna
March 22, 2011 at 11:36 amso fun! I got it from Whole Foods—I think it’s new!
Jaclyn and Jenn
March 22, 2011 at 11:02 amI just started this healthy food photo sharing site: http://healthfreakfood.com/
I would love it if you submitted your pretty food photos! 🙂
Whitney
March 22, 2011 at 11:07 amYum!! I’ll be adding that to the rotation next week!
sisters running the kitchen
March 22, 2011 at 11:10 amlooks great! especially those alphabet pasta!
Kiran
March 22, 2011 at 11:19 amLove minestrone and colorful spring vegetables that ups an appetite!
sonia
March 22, 2011 at 11:25 amWonderful and yummy recipe, just perfect for my little one… !
healthy seasonal recipes
March 22, 2011 at 11:27 amThis is so beautiful and inspiring! Thanks for the feast for the eyes and the yummy recipe. I love the mint.
Lola
March 22, 2011 at 11:44 amPoblano pepper and alphabet soup 🙂 I love it!!!
I’m having a Giveaway on my blog, I’m giving away a bag of mexican goodies, please drop by everybody!!!
xoxo
Lola
Ambersnotebook
March 22, 2011 at 12:04 pmHoly yum!! And perfect for my post tonsillectomy healing! I think you just answered my what’s for dinner question!
Amber’s Notebook
Amanda @ Martinis At Six
March 22, 2011 at 12:15 pmThis isn’t always the best thing to say when it comes to food but in this case its wonderful – I love how it looks so green! We’re still in that gray phase here in Michigan, but hopefully everything will be green and growing again. The alphabet pasta is super cute too.
Kelli H
March 22, 2011 at 1:05 pmsoup looks delicious! definitely fitting for this gloomy weather.
Jennifer
March 22, 2011 at 1:11 pmDoes that soup taste as good as it looks?? ‘Cuz it sure looks good!!
Jessica @ Healthy Dairyland
March 22, 2011 at 1:24 pmSoup looks fantastic!
Emma (Namaste Everyday)
March 22, 2011 at 1:44 pmthe alphabet letters would make this a great meal for kids, too!
Mellie
March 22, 2011 at 2:35 pmI love the alphabet noodles, they bring back happy memories.
Emily @ Savory and Savage
March 22, 2011 at 2:53 pmA vibrant soup that screams spring 🙂
Make me have a new resolve to hit the famer’s market this week.
d.liff @ yelleBELLYboo
March 22, 2011 at 4:29 pmnormally i’m not a big minestrone girl but this looks SO GOOD! I love spring!
foodies at home
March 22, 2011 at 6:02 pmIt has been rather chilly in Northern California but this soup looks like the perfect cure! I have been itching for spring and all those great green veggies! Yum!
French Heart
March 22, 2011 at 6:15 pmBeautiful pix. Looks delicious. Just back from the freezing, deserted, windy beach. Making this right now. to thaw out. Thanks!
Happy When Not Hungry
March 22, 2011 at 7:02 pmNew to your blog, but love it!! This soup looks delicious. I love the addition of the mint and the alphabet pasta too. So fun!
Sabrina @ Radioactive Runner
March 23, 2011 at 4:51 amOh this looks AWESOME! I am a huge lover of soups like this and can’t wait to try it..
Thanks for sharing!!
sheila @ Elements
March 23, 2011 at 10:06 amLooks amazingly beautiful!!! All those yummy greens and beans and other divine things…like cheese and peas!! I need this!! Maybe I’ll my a pot for dinner! 🙂
R @ Learning As I Chop
March 23, 2011 at 10:46 amThis soup looks delicious! Might have to try it
Tasha @ Voracious
March 24, 2011 at 2:19 amYes yes YES! This soup looks so fresh and bright, what an absolute riot of color. Soup is one of my very favorite things to eat, and the more healthy goodies packed into it the better.
Although, here in Saudi Arabia, it’s already hitting the 90s….so I think we’re jumping past Spring and straight into Summer. I’ll just eat the soup inside with the AC cranked!
amanda
March 25, 2011 at 5:37 amthis is tasty, made it last night, but minus the fennel and mint, plus 2 diced carrots and a stalk of diced celery. i used a chipotle pepper in adobo sauce instead of the poblano, since I didn’t have a poblano. i just wonder when you added the fennel in your version? is this anything like true italian minestrone? in any case this hit the spot for dinner on a (cooler) evening. i’m sure you know how alabama in spring is… which means spring happens for about a week, then pollen and humidity hit.
Lesley
March 26, 2011 at 6:59 pmThis soup is a green blessing! Full of bring promise for spring, yet warm and delicious on this cool, damp NW March day. Truly delicious. I plan to make a pot for an ill coworker this week, too.
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Kate @ NaturaStride
March 26, 2012 at 2:02 pmSo excited to make this TONIGHT! 🙂
P Newton
March 31, 2012 at 3:56 pmThis soup is delicious. Loved everything about it – the cannellini beans, the rainbow chard, which I had never used before, the mint. I could not find poblano pepper so omitted it but will try it next time. I used 1 1/2 cups of orzo and added carrots. There were so many veggies that I added 2 1/2 quarts of low fat chicken broth. Be sure to add the Parmesan at the end and the squeeze of lemon. The lemon brightens the entire bowl. Yummy!
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Laura
April 7, 2017 at 5:39 amI just searched for this recipe for an hour because I lost my bookmark. I finally just started googling the ingredients I could remember and I found it! This has been my go to for years! So good 🙂