quinoa minestrone soup

The fall weather seems to finally have arrived in our neck of the woods. Today was cool and rainy and the perfect day for a warm bowl of soup!

I threw together this hearty {quinoa minestrone} this afternoon and enjoyed a steamy bowl for dinner. It is a healthy soup and a gluten free meal which is great for me since I am GF! It is dishes like this that satisfy the whole family that are winners in my house.

{quinoa minestrone}

• 2 Tbs extra virgin olive oil
• 3 medium carrots, diced
• 1 small red onion (about a cup), diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 tsp fresh thyme, chopped
• 1 can of cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 can of diced tomatoes with no added salt
• 1/3 cup uncooked quinoa
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 cup baby spinach
• 1 Tbs thinly sliced fresh basil
• fresh grated parmesan if desired

In a large pot, heat the oil over medium heat and add the carrots, onion, garlic, bay leaves and thyme. (I would have added a few ribs of diced celery here if I’d had any on hand.) Season with salt and pepper. Sauté until the veggies are tender. This takes between 8 and 10 minutes depending on the size of your dice.

Add 6 cups of water along with the beans, tomatoes and quinoa. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer for 20 minutes.

Remove the bay leaves and check the seasoning. You will most likely need to add more salt and pepper and even some red pepper flakes if your family likes a little kick! The secret to flavorful cooking is to layer the seasonings and check the taste. Adjust until it suits you.

Stir in the spinach and basil just before serving. If desired, grate some fresh parmesan cheese over your bowl. Serve warm to your family {along with some crusty bread for the non-gluten free folks!} and feel good about serving them a healthy and hearty meal.

Did you know…..quinoa is usually considered a whole grain but it is actually a seed? It provides all 9 essential amino acids making it a complete protein!

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