Slow Cooker Two Bean Minestrone Recipes

SLOW-COOKER MINESTRONE

Steps:

• Combine the first 13 ingredients in a 5- or 6-qt. slow cooker. Cook, covered, on low 6-8 hours or until vegetables are tender. Stir in beans, zucchini and pasta. Cook, covered, on high about 30 minutes longer, until pasta is tender. Discard bay leaves. If desired, top with grated Parmesan cheese. Freeze option: Freeze cooled soup in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a saucepan, stirring occasionally; add water if necessary.

SLOW-COOKER VEGETARIAN MINESTRONE

Steps:

• Add the beans, carrots, garlic, bay leaves, celery, sweet potato, onion, crushed red pepper flakes, Parmesan rind, if using, 1 tablespoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper to the insert of a 6-quart slow cooker. Stir in the crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, tomato paste and 4 cups water. Cover and cook until the beans are tender, 6 hours on high or 8 hours on low.
• Stir in the kale, cover and let simmer until just wilted, about 10 minutes. Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with freshly grated Parmesan. Serve with toasted baguette, if desired.
• If using pasta, spoon 1/2 cup cooked pasta into each bowl and ladle the soup on top. Store the pasta and soup in separate containers.

SLOW-COOKER BEAN AND SAUSAGE MINESTRONE

Steps:

• If bean soup mix comes with seasoning mix, discard it. Heat beans and 8 cups water to boiling in 4-quart saucepan; reduce heat to low. Simmer uncovered 10 minutes; remove from heat. Cover and let stand 1 hour.
• Cook sausage and onion in 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sausage is no longer pink; drain if necessary.
• Drain beans and discard water. Mix beans, sausage mixture, carrots, broth and 2 cups water in 5- to 6-quart slow cooker.
• Cover and cook on Low heat setting 8 to 9 hours.
• Stir in tomatoes and pasta. Increase heat setting to High. Cover and cook about 30 minutes or until pasta is tender. Sprinkle individual servings with cheese and parsley.