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Home » Recipes » Traditional Italian Dinner Recipes

Farro Minestrone (Italian Style)

by kisitalian, Oct 19, 2023 updated Oct 19, 2023

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Farro minestrone is a warming Italian soup that you will love to cozy up to in the colder months. This farro soup is a complete meal in one pot and is so delicious.

Having a wonderful Winter soup with Winter vegetables is so important. A classic Italian minestrone that most people are familiar with is delicious but most of those ingredients are for vegetables that are grown in the warmer months.

This farro minestrone is the one I make for my family in the Winter and it is loaded with seasonal Winter ingredients you can find at any local grocery store.

Why you will love this recipe

  • Lots of flavor: Farro minestrone is an Italian soup that is hearty and full of flavor.  This farro soup makes the perfect winter soup because of the winter vegetables used to make it and it is delicious.
  • Hearty ingredients: This soup uses farro (an ancient grain) instead of the traditional pasta because is more commonly found in the northern areas of Italy which is the inspiration for this Italian soup. 
  • Easy: If I am looking for a really easy comforting soup to make for my family, this is the soup I always turn to.

Ingredients In This Farro Minestrone

This is a very simple straightforward Farro soup recipe. All of the flavor comes from cooking the ingredients together in the pot and no special skills are needed.

Soup

  • Cranberry beans (dried). If you can't find these beans then pinto or kidney beans will work.
  • Pancetta: The crispy pancetta really adds a meaty flavor to the soup and texture.
  • Olive oil: I like to use good quality extra virgin olive oil because it has a nice fruity flavor.
  • Carrots: These add sweetness to the broth.
  • Celery: Celery adds a light flavor to the base of the broth.
  • Kale: Kale is nutritious and stands up well to cooking.
  • Tomato puree or passata: The puree thickens the broth while adding flavor.I use this in my Italian tomato soup as well.
  • Chicken broth: This is the base to the soup.
  • Pearled farro: This is quick cooking farro. It is the same one I use when I make Italian farro salad.
  • Parmesan for serving

Spices

  • Garlic: This is the heart of the Italian flavor in this soup.
  • Onion: The onion is cooked down to add a light sweetness.
  • Red pepper flakes: Adds depth of flavor.
  • 1 Fresh rosemary: For an earthy note.
  • Fresh thyme: This also adds a nice earthy note to the soup.

Storing

To store leftover minestrone that you have, allow the soup to cool completely then place it in a container with a lid. Store in the fridge for up to one week.

To freeze this soup, follow the steps above but instead of placing it in the fridge, place it in a freezer-proof container. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Pairing Ideas

Here are some of our favorite things to make with this Farro minestrone:

  • ciabatta garlic bread
    The Best Ciabatta Garlic Bread
  • bruschetta on plate
    The Best Bread for Bruschetta (+ Recipe!)
  • tomato galette with ricotta
    Italian Tomato Ricotta Galette
  • white bean bruschetta
    White Bean Bruschetta

For more Italian recipes

  • pot of zucchini soup
    Authentic Italian Zucchini Soup With Orecchiette
  • pasta al tonno feature
    Pasta al Tonno - Italian Pasta with Tuna
  • pasta con salsiccia 2
    Pasta Con Salsiccia - Sausage Sugo
  • baked Italian white beans on a plate
    Italian Baked Cannellini Beans
Two bowls of minestrone on a table with bread and spoons next to them.

Farro Minestrone (Italian Style)

Melissa
Farro minestrone is a warming Italian soup that you will love to cozy up to in the colder months. This farro soup is a complete meal in one pot and is so delicious.
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes mins
Cook Time 40 minutes mins
Total Time 1 hour hr
Course entertaining, Main Course, Soup
Cuisine Italian
Servings 8 servings
Calories 323 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 4 cups Kale stems removed and course chopped
  • 1 ½ cup dried cranberry beans If you can't find these beans then dried pinto or kidney beans will work.
  • 1 cup pearled farro this is a very fast cooking farro
  • 1 cup of tomato puree
  • 2 cups carrots peeled and diced
  • 1 celery stalk diced
  • 4 ounces pancetta of diced
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 clove garlic diced
  • 1 small onion diced
  • 1 sprig of fresh rosemary
  • 1 sprig of fresh thyme
  • pinch of red pepper flakes
  • Freshly grated Parmesan for serving
  • water to fill pot
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Instructions
 

  • In a medium pot add your dried beans, thyme, and rosemary and pour in enough water to cover your beans by 1 inch with the water.
    1 ½ cup dried cranberry beans, 1 sprig of fresh rosemary, 1 sprig of fresh thyme, water
  • Bring this to a boil and then cover and reduce the heat to a simmer.
  • Let the beans simmer for about 30-40 minutes until they just start to get tender. Then set aside.
  • In a large heavy bottom pot on medium heat, add your olive oil, pancetta and your red pepper flakes. Saute for 5 minutes to lightly cook your pancetta.
    4 ounces pancetta, 2 tablespoon olive oil, pinch of red pepper flakes
  • Now add your garlic, onion, celery and carrots and saute for about 3 minutes until they just start to soften.
    2 cups carrots, 1 celery stalk, 1 clove garlic, 1 small onion
  • Now add your chicken stock to the pot and mix well.
    4 cups chicken broth
  • Next add your tomato puree, farro and all of your beans and their water to the pot.
    1 cup pearled farro, 1 cup of tomato puree
  • Mix this all together.
  • Add your Kale and let simmer on low heat for another 15-20 minutes or until the farro is soft but still has some chew.
    4 cups Kale
  • Season your soup with salt and pepper. Beans soak up salt so make sure to season well!
  • Ladle into soup bowls and top generously with freshly grated Parmesan and crusty bread on the side.
    Freshly grated Parmesan for serving

Nutrition

Calories: 323kcalCarbohydrates: 51gProtein: 15gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 615mgPotassium: 994mgFiber: 16gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 8893IUVitamin C: 38mgCalcium: 167mgIron: 4mg
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