Minestrone Soup in Jar (Printable Version)

Colorful vegetable and small pasta layered soup in jars, ideal for ready-to-eat meals with minimal prep.

# The Ingredients You'll Need:

→ Base Layer

01 - 1/3 cup small pasta (ditalini, elbow macaroni, or mini shells)

→ Dried Beans & Legumes

02 - 2 tbsp dried red lentils
03 - 2 tbsp canned cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

→ Vegetables

04 - 1/3 cup zucchini, diced
05 - 1/3 cup carrots, diced
06 - 1/3 cup celery, diced
07 - 1/4 cup frozen green peas
08 - 1/4 cup baby spinach, chopped

→ Tomato & Flavor

09 - 2 tbsp sun-dried tomatoes, chopped (oil-packed, drained)
10 - 1 tbsp tomato paste

→ Seasonings

11 - 1 tsp dried Italian herbs
12 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
13 - 1/4 tsp chili flakes (optional)
14 - 1/2 tsp salt
15 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
16 - 1 vegetable bouillon cube, crumbled

→ For Serving

17 - 2 cups boiling water per jar
18 - Grated Parmesan cheese (optional, omit for vegan)

# Step-by-Step Instructions:

01 - Layer pasta, lentils, cannellini beans, carrots, celery, zucchini, peas, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, tomato paste, seasonings, and crumbled bouillon cube in a clean quart-size mason jar. Press down gently to compact if needed.
02 - Seal jars tightly and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
03 - Remove jar from refrigerator, add 2 cups boiling water to cover ingredients, stir well or seal and shake gently to mix.
04 - Let sit for 10-15 minutes until pasta and vegetables soften, or microwave the open jar for 3-4 minutes, stirring halfway through.
05 - Stir again, adjust seasoning to taste, and top with grated Parmesan if desired. Serve hot.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • You prep once on Sunday and eat well all week without thinking about it.
  • Everything stays fresh in the jar, and the layers stay separated until heat brings them together.
  • It's the kind of lunch that makes you feel responsible and nourished at the same time.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the canned beans, or the starch will make your jar cloudy and the soup taste heavy.
  • The order matters because it ensures the hearty things soften while the delicate spinach stays on top where it'll wilt perfectly without turning to mush.
03 -
  • Don't fill the jar all the way to the top before adding water; leave an inch of headspace so the ingredients can soften and mingle without spilling over.
  • If you're preparing these jars in advance, keep your tomato paste separate and stir it in just before adding water; it can get gummy if it sits in a sealed jar for too long.
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