Munchie Monday: Copy Cat Minestrone Soup

Dear One LOVES to eat at Olive Garden.  He/we do not do it often, but each time it is delightful. (The closest OG is about one hour away.  Too far to "go out to eat"...unless we are in the neighborhood!)  I like the kale sausage soup.  He likes the minestrone soup.  I was able to find a recipe somewhere on the internet.  Of course, I had to make some changes...!

Start by cooking 1 cup white beans covered with 2 inches of water above the level of the beans in an Instant Pot.  Pressure cook on HIGH for 30 minutes.  When cooked, drain and set aside in a separate bowl.

In the now cleaned Instant Pot inner liner bowl place

3/4 cup diced onion
1/2 cup diced celery
1/2 cup peeled, quartered, sliced carrots
1 zucchini cut in half lengthwise then finely sliced
2 teaspoons garlic minced
1 14-15 ounce can diced tomatoes
1 quart homemade (or commercial) vegetable broth
1/4 cup tomato paste
1/2 cup small pasta--bowtie is great, though small macaroni is normal
1 cup cooked and finely chopped collards--or you can put in 2 cups fresh chopped baby spinach


Mix well with a long-handled wooden spoon.  Put the cover on and cook for 5 minutes on HIGH. 

Do a quick release, but do it sort of intermittently.  That means press down on the release valve for 10 seconds then let go for 10 seconds.  Repeat until pressure is down.

Add the drained cooked white beans.  Stir well.  Add salt and pepper to taste If necessary after adding the beans, reheat the soup.

If you are a garnish person, chopped fresh parsley makes a pretty garnish.

When I made this the first time (and took a picture!) we did not have small pasta so I used whole wheat spaghetti that I broke into small pieces.

The soup is good enough that Dear One serves it to himself when he goes to the refrigerator to find something he wants to eat.  Having shared that info, I am sure you will understand that this is a pretty good soup.  Enjoy it!