Chunky Minestrone

Total Time: 45 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 1/2 cups chopped onions
• 1 medium carrot, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 2 (14 1/2 ounce) cans low-sodium tomatoes, undrained and cut up
• 3/4 cup water
• 1/2 cup long-grain rice
• 1 teaspoon dried italian seasoning, crushed
• 4 cups chopped fresh spinach
• 1 (15 ounce) can reduced-sodium navy beans or 1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained (sometimes i use both kinds)
• 1 medium zucchini, quartered lengthwise and sliced
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
• grated parmesan cheese (optional)
• salt (if not making low-sodium)

Recipe

• 1 in a 4-quart dutch oven heat olive oil over medium-high heat; cook and stir onion,carrot,and garlic in hot oil about 3 minutes or until onion is tender.
• 2 stir in the broth, undrained tomatoes, water, uncooked rice,and italian seasoning, bring to boiling; reduce heat and simmer, covered about 20 minutes or until rice is tender.
• 3 stir in spinach, beans, zucchini, and pepper; cook, covered, for about 5 minutes more, serve if desired, sprinkle with parmesan cheese.