Beef and Cannellini Bean Minestrone

• servings: 6 servings
• total time: 52 minutes

Ingredients

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 onion, finely diced

1 large carrot, peeled and diced into 1/4-inch pieces

1 rib celery, trimmed and diced into 1/4-inch pieces

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

8 ounces lean (8 percent fat) ground beef

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 tablespoon tomato paste

4 cups low-sodium beef broth

One 28-ounce can diced tomatoes

One 15-ounce can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained

1 dried bay leaf

1/2 cup grated Parmesan

Directions

In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, add the oil and heat over medium heat. Stir in the onion, carrot and celery and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cook, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are soft, about 5 minutes. Increase the heat to high and add the ground beef and garlic. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cook until the beef is browned and cooked through, about 6 to 7 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and mix to combine. Add the broth, tomatoes, beans, and bay leaf. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until the liquid has reduced by half, about 30 minutes. Remove the bay leaf and discard. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with Parmesan.

Nutrition

• Calories: 350
• Total Fat: 18g
• Saturated Fat: 6g
• Cholesterol: 35mg
• Sodium: 1082mg
• Total Carbohydrate: 27g
• Dietary Fiber: 7g
• Total Sugars: 6g
• Protein: 21g