Green Pesto Minestrone

Green Pesto Minestrone

with orzo, green peas and spinach

Recipe by
Reviewed by Arturs Arnicans
Prep Time: 5m
Cook Time: 23m
Total Time: 28m
Servings: 4
Difficulty: Easy
5.0 (8 Reviews)
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Ingredients

Adjust servings:

Nutritional Information

334
Calories
17g
Fat
24g
Carbohydrates
19g
Protein
44mg
Cholesterol
1400mg
Sodium
Green Pesto Minestrone

Recipe Description

This vibrant Green Pesto Minestrone is a delicious take on a classic Italian vegetable soup. It’s easy to prepare and calls on many staples you might already have in your fridge and pantry. Each bowl is swirled with homemade (or your favorite store-bought) pesto and topped with a generous helping of Parmesan cheese to create the perfect fresh and healthy bowl of soup.

The cooking is painless and fast. Sauté the onions and celery in olive oil. Add the vegetable stock, lemon juice and zest, and bring to a simmer. Then stir in the orzo pasta and cook for 5 minutes. Add the frozen green peas and spinach and cook for another 5 minutes. Finally, swirl in the pesto and season with salt and black pepper to taste. Serve in bowls topped with a pile of grated Parmesan and crusty bread on the side. Enjoy!

To make the Green Pesto Minestrone, you will need the following ingredients:

Ingredients for Green Pesto Minestrone

Recipe Features

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Steps to make

  1. 1

    Cook onions and celery

    12 min
    Step 1 - Green Pesto Minestrone

    In a large pot, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil and add 1 finely chopped onion, 2 finely chopped celery stalks and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 10 minutes.

  2. 2

    Add vegetable stock, lemon juice and zest, and orzo

    10 min
    Step 2 - Green Pesto Minestrone

    Add 6 cups vegetable stock, 1 tablespoon lemon zest, 4 tablespoons lemon juice, and season with salt to taste. Bring to a simmer. Stir in 6 ounces orzo and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes.

  3. 3

    Add green peas and spinach

    5 min
    Step 3 - Green Pesto Minestrone

    Add 5 ounces green peas and 8 ounces spinach and cook for another 5 mins.

  4. 4

    Add pesto

    1 min
    Step 4 - Green Pesto Minestrone

    Swirl in 2 ounces green pesto. Taste and add more salt if needed.

  5. 5

    Serve

    Step 5 - Green Pesto Minestrone

    To serve, ladle the soup into 4 bowls and top each bowl with a tablespoon of Parmesan cheese.

Give this Green Pesto Minestrone a try and be sure to let us know what you think! It’s vibrant, healthy, and easy to prepare. Finish each bowl off with a generous helping of Parmesan, and you’ll have the perfect bowl of soup for dinner!

About the author

Lilly Mathuse

Lilly is an enthusiastic and cheerful young mom. She knows as well as any parent that children can be really picky when it comes to food. And she’s had plenty of experience trying to cook meals that are both tasty and nutritious, and able to satisfy the tastes of a fussy kid right away! To save you some precious time, Lilly's going to share with you all the tricks she learned the hard way, so you don’t have to! She has a wealth of recipes for quick and easy meals for kids and families on a budget.

Recipe Reviews

Have you made this recipe? Share your experience and help other cooks!

★★★★★
★★★★★
5.0 out of 5 (8 reviews)
Fiona Matthews
February 11, 2025
Verified

Wow! This Green Pesto Minestrone is the bomb! Made it for fam last night, and everyone devoured it! Super easy and delish. Definitely my new go-to for busy weeknights!

Victoria
December 18, 2024
Verified

Superb! My kids loved it, and it was so easy to make! Perfect for busy nights. Pesto added such a fresh twist. Definitely making it again!

Beverly Johnson
November 9, 2024
Verified

I made the Green Pesto Minestrone last night and it was exceptional. My husband loved it, and even my picky kids ate it without complaint. I used some leftover veggies from the fridge, which made it easy and quick. Definitely a recipe I’ll keep making regularly.

Rachel Smith
September 13, 2024
Verified

Delicious! I made this Green Pesto Minestrone for a quick family dinner, and it was a hit. My kids loved the vibrant colors and the flavors were perfect. I used leftovers from the fridge, and it turned out just great. Definitely a go-to recipe now.

Zack
September 1, 2024
Verified

Banger! Made it quick after work, and it hit the spot. Love how the pesto adds a nice twist. Definitely gonna make this again!

Yara
August 18, 2024
Verified

Simply delicious soup!

Zara
February 3, 2024
Verified

I made this Green Pesto Minestrone last weekend and it was a hit with my family! So quick and easy to whip up. The flavors are just fantastic. I love how simple it is. It's now a regular on our dinner table, and husband can't stop raving about it.

Athina
July 10, 2023
Verified

It’s bursting with green goodness.Thanks for sharing the recipe!

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