Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
- 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
- 2 stalks celery, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 14.5 oz fire-roasted diced tomatoes with juices
- 30 oz canned cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
- 6 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary
- 2 bay leaves
- 0.5 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1.5 cups gluten-free Ditalini pasta
- 2 cups fresh baby spinach
- 0.25 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 0.5 tsp salt
- 0.25 tsp black pepper
Instructions:
- Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add diced onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté until onion is translucent and vegetables begin to soften, approximately 6–8 minutes.
- Stir in the minced garlic, tomato paste, dried oregano, dried thyme, and red pepper flakes. Cook for 2 minutes until the tomato paste darkens to a brick red and becomes fragrant.
- Add the vegetable broth, diced tomatoes with their juices, bay leaves, whole rosemary sprig, and drained beans. Bring the mixture to a boil.
- Reduce heat to low and simmer partially covered for 15 minutes. Optional: Remove 1 cup of the soup and blend until smooth, then stir back in for a creamier texture.
- Add the gluten-free pasta directly to the pot. Simmer for 8–10 minutes, or until the pasta is al dente. Ensure you do not overcook to maintain pasta texture.
- Stir in the baby spinach during the final 2 minutes of cooking until wilted. Remove the bay leaves and rosemary sprig.
- Season with salt, black pepper, and lemon juice. Serve immediately topped with fresh parsley and nutritional yeast.