The Roman Minestrone is a hearty and tasty dish, a traditional recipe that brings the flavor of Roman cuisine directly to your home. This dish, with its 350 calories per serving, is an ideal choice for those looking for a complete and nutritious meal.
With just 15 minutes of preparation and 30 minutes of cooking, you can enjoy this culinary delight in less than an hour. It’s the perfect recipe for those seeking something flavorful, yet quick and easy to prepare.
I still remember the first time I tasted this minestrone: it was during a cold winter evening in Rome. The warmth and intense flavors immediately won me over, making it my favorite comfort recipe for the colder days.
Recipe Notes
- DIFFICULTY: easy to prepare
- PRO: traditional and tasty
- CONS: medium to long cooking time
- PREPARATION: quick, in just 15 minutes
- NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION: 350 calories per serving
- SUITABLE FOR: a warm and comforting dinner
Notes on the Ingredients of Roman Soup
Let’s discover together how these ingredients come together to create a traditional Roman dish.
- Leek: gives a delicate and slightly sweet flavor, perfect for starting the sauté.
- Garlic: essential for adding depth of flavor without overpowering the other ingredients.
- Small Onion: an aromatic base that blends perfectly with leek and garlic.
- Butter & Olive Oil: a mix of fats for a rich and flavorful sauté.
- Beef Marrow: a secret ingredient that enriches the broth with tasty and nutritious notes.
- Romaine Lettuce: provides freshness and a slight crunchiness to the soup.
- Peeled Tomatoes: bring acidity and color, balancing the flavors of the dish.
- Broth: the liquid base that welcomes all the ingredients, preferably homemade for more flavor.
- Small Pasta: small doses of pasta that make every spoonful of the soup a complete pleasure.
Nutritional Values of the Traditional Capital Soup
This traditional dish offers an interesting mix of nutrients thanks to its variety of ingredients. Here are some key points:
- Leek, garlic, and shallot: These vegetables are known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, helping to strengthen the immune system.
- Romaine Lettuce: A source of vitamin K, vitamin A, and folate, important for eye and blood health.
- Peeled Tomatoes: Rich in lycopene, an antioxidant that supports cardiovascular health.
- Olive Oil and Butter: Provide monounsaturated and saturated fats; moderate use is key to keeping total calories balanced.
- Beef Marrow: Adds nutritional value through high-quality proteins, but be mindful of the saturated fat content.
Although this dish contains about 350 calories per serving, it is important to balance the rest of the daily diet to maintain a healthy eating regimen.
Roman Soup: The Best Traditional Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 Leek
- 2 cloves Garlic
- 1 Small Onion
- 30 g Butter
- 2 tbsp. Olive Oil
- 30 g Beef Marrow crumbled
- 150 g Romaine Lettuce
- 3 Peeled Tomatoes
- 150 cl Broth
- 160 g Small Pasta
Instructions
- Brown a chopped leek, garlic and onion with butter and olive oil.
- Add the crumbled marrow, lettuce strips and chopped tomatoes. Brown for 10 minutes more.
- Pour in the hot broth and, after 20 minutes, add the noodles and bring to a simmer.
Notes
Variety and Ideas to Enhance Your Soup
If you are looking for ways to vary this delicious dish, here are some ideas that might inspire you. For a lighter version, replace the butter with an extra drizzle of olive oil; this will keep the dish tasty but reduce the calories. Vegetable lovers can add spinach or chopped chard for an extra green touch. If you desire an even richer taste, try using lean ground meat instead of beef marrow, ensuring additional protein without weighing it down too much.
For those following specific dietary regimens, it is possible to make this dish vegetarian by eliminating the traditional broth and replacing it with a vegetable one; the same can be done with the marrow, opting for legumes such as chickpeas or lentils to maintain a hearty consistency. Finally, spicy food enthusiasts can add a sprinkle of chopped red chili during cooking to give a lively twist to the soup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Some frequently asked questions from our readers.
What type of broth do you recommend for this soup?
We recommend using either vegetable or meat broth, depending on personal preferences.
Can I substitute beef marrow with another type of meat?
Yes, you can substitute beef marrow with other meats such as bacon or sausage to vary the flavor of the soup.
How long should the initial ingredients be sautéed for?
The initial ingredients should be sautéed for about 5-7 minutes until they become golden and soft.
