Minestrone
Minestrone is a classic Italian vegetable soup with onions, leek, mixed vegetables and ditalini pasta, cooked entirely in the Thermomix. The TM7 chops the vegetables uniformly, sautés them in olive oil and simmers the soup hands-free, finishing with fresh basil for a fragrant, comforting bowl.
About this recipe
Minestrone Thermomix TM7 is the ultimate Italian vegetable soup recipe for your all-in-one kitchen machine. This classic minestrone brings together onions, leek and mixed vegetables in a fragrant olive oil base, simmered in a well-seasoned vegetable stock with tiny ditalini pasta and finished with fresh basil leaves. The Thermomix TM7 takes care of every stage: the blades chop the vegetables to a uniform size in seconds, the precise heating function sautés them gently without burning, and the integrated stirring keeps the soup and pasta moving so nothing sticks to the bowl. It is exactly the kind of quick weeknight dinner or warming lunch that busy households need, because you simply add the ingredients and let the machine do the work. Searching for minestrone recipes that taste like an Italian nonna made them? This version delivers a deep, savoury broth with tender vegetables and al dente pasta, all in one mixing bowl with minimal washing up afterwards.
Preparation tips
- Cut the leek in half lengthwise and rinse thoroughly under running water before adding it to the mixing bowl, as sand often hides between the layers and can give the minestrone a gritty texture.
- Add the ditalini pasta only towards the end of cooking so it stays al dente; if you prefer a thicker soup, add a splash of water or stock when reheating the next day, as the pasta absorbs liquid.
- For a fuller flavour, grate Parmesan rind into the broth while it simmers and serve the minestrone with extra fresh basil and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil; white beans make a kid-friendly protein addition.
Recipe variations
- Gluten-free version: replace the ditalini pasta with a gluten-free short pasta or rice, added at the same stage; check that the vegetable stock cubes are certified gluten-free, and finish with basil and olive oil as usual.
- Spring minestrone: swap the mixed vegetables for seasonal produce such as courgette, peas, green beans and asparagus tips, and stir in a spoonful of pesto with the fresh basil just before serving for a fresh, festive twist.
Thermomix TM7 Benefits
- Fine chopping - The Thermomix chops onions and leek into even pieces in seconds, releasing their sweetness without tears. [Chopping]. [Multi-Function]
- Precise sautéing - The TM7 heats the extra virgin olive oil at a controlled temperature, softening the vegetables without burning them. [Heating]. [Precision Control]
- Hands-free simmering - The Thermomix stirs the vegetable stock and mixed vegetables automatically while the flavours develop. [Mixing]. [Hands-Free]
- Built-in scale - Weigh the ditalini pasta and stock cubes directly in the mixing bowl of the TM7 for exact proportions. [Weighing]. [Precision Control]
- Fresh grinding - The TM7 grinds a pinch of salt and peppercorns freshly, seasoning the minestrone with maximum flavour. [Grinding]. [Multi-Function]
Ingredients
- yellow onions
- leek
- extra virgin olive oil
- mixed vegetables
- water
- vegetable stock cubes
- salt
- pasta, dry, type ditalini
- extra virgin olive oil
- fresh basil leaves