Spring Vegetable Minestrone Soup with Fava Beans and Mint

When the weather warms and fresh vegetables reappear at your local farm stand, try this delicious soup. Thyme's light mint flavor seasons the spring vegetables perfectly.

Makes 12 (1-cup) servings.

Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes

Nutritional Information

For 1 serving
Calories: 133
Sodium: 691mg
Fat: 5g
Carbohydrates: 17g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Fiber: 4g
Protein: 5g

Spring Vegetable Minestrone Soup with Fava Beans and Mint

• Fiber Rich • Low Calorie • Meatless

Ingredients

1/4 cup olive oil

2 large leeks (light parts only), chopped

1 cup chopped carrots

1 cup chopped celery

2 quarts (8 cups) vegetable or chicken broth

1 tablespoon McCormick® Gourmet Collection Parsley Flakes

2 teaspoons McCormick® Gourmet Collection Basil Leaves

2 teaspoons McCormick® Gourmet Collection Thyme Leaves

2 cups shelled fresh fava beans

1 bunch asparagus, ends trimmed and cut diagonally into 1-inch pieces

1 can (16 ounces) chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained and rinsed

1 cup fresh or frozen peas

1/2 cup green beans, cut into 1-inch pieces

1 to 2 teaspoons McCormick® Gourmet Collection Mint Flakes

McCormick® Gourmet Collection Sicilian Sea Salt (optional)

McCormick® Gourmet Collection Black Peppercorns, Tellicherry , freshly ground (optional)

Freshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

Directions

1. Heat oil in 5-quart Dutch oven or saucepot on medium-high heat. Add leeks, carrots and celery; cook and stir 5 to 6 minutes or until vegetables soften. Add broth, parsley, basil and thyme. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer, uncovered, 20 minutes.

2. Stir in fava beans, asparagus, chickpeas, peas and green beans. Cook 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender-crisp. Add mint flakes. Season to taste with sea salt and freshly ground pepper, if desired.

3. To serve, ladle into soup bowls. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.

Tips

Test Kitchen Tip: Prepare as directed, using frozen fava or lima beans, thawed, in place of the fresh fava beans.

This recipe was created by Cat Cora, Bon Appétit Executive Chef, for the McCormick® Gourmet Collection.

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