How to Make Carrabba’s Minestrone Soup Recipe At Home

Carrabba’s Italian Grill is a chain of American casual dining restaurants that was established in the mid-1980s. The chain is now owned by Orlando-based Bloomin Brands and has more than 200 locations in the United States (with the most restaurants in Florida) and casual dining establishments in Canada and Brazil.

Carrabba’s Italian Grill was established in the greater Houston area by Johnny Carrabba III and his Uncle Damian. Their menu combines delicious Italian recipes and specialties from both the original owner’s mother and sister. Among the long list of Carrabba’s favorites is its Minestrone Soup, a gluten-free warm, and comforting dish that can even be a satisfying main meal.

The Steps to Make Carrabba’s Minestrone Soup Recipe at Home

This Carrabba’s Minestrone Soup recipe is the restaurant’s version of a classic Italian vegetable soup. In about an hour, you can create a hearty yet delectable Minestrone Soup from fresh, basic ingredients.

• Preparation Time – 20 minutes.
• Cooking Time – 50 minutes.
• Total Prep and Cook Time – 1 Hour 10 minutes.
• Serves – 12+

Grab a large or 10-quart stock pot to make this soup from Carrabba’s Italian Grill.

Recipe Ingredients For Carrabba’s Minestrone Soup

Because the soup is made of many vegetables, it is essential to prep these ingredients as much ahead of time as possible and to cut these vegetables into similar size pieces. The ingredients for Carrabba’s Minestrone Soup recipe include the following –

• 2 tablespoons of Salted Butter & 1 tablespoon of Olive Oil – each is used to soften/caramelize the celery, onions, and carrots as they begin to cook.
• 4 Celery Stalks or 1 Cup – Chopped.
• 5 Carrots or 1.5 Cups – Chopped.
• 1 White or Sweet Onion – Diced.
• 2 Garlic Cloves – Minced.
• 2 oz. of Sliced Prosciutto.
  Pro-tip – it is best to leave the prosciutto slices whole, and this is key to developing a deep, rich flavor in this soup.
• 1 lb. of Green Cabbage – Chopped into 1-inch by 1-inch pieces.
• ½ Cup of Green Beans – Cut into 1-inch pieces.
• 1 Zucchini – Diced.
• 1 Tablespoon of Dried Basil
• 1 Tablespoon of Dried Parsley
  Pro-tip – Feel free to use fresh herbs – using similar measurements.
• 3 – 32 oz. Boxes of Chicken Stock
• 2 Plum Tomatoes – Diced.
• 1 Bay Leaf
  Pro-tip – A bay leaf helps create a light and balanced soup.
• 2 Russet Potatoes – Peeled and Diced.
  Pro-tip – The russet potato holds its shape best. To create a similar Minestrone Soup to Carrabba’s, take the time to peel the Russet Potatoes. To make something different, leave the peel on.
• 1 Rind of a Pecorino Romano Wheel.
• 1 – 15 oz. Can of Garbanzo Beans – Drained.
• 1 – 15 oz. Can of Kidney Beans – Drained.
• 1- 15 oz. Can of Cannellini Beans – Drained.
• 2 oz. Pecorino Romano Cheese – Grated.
• Salt & Pepper to taste

Optional Ingredients for Carrabba’s Minestrone Soup Recipe

Although most consider Carrabba’s recipe pretty perfect by itself, you can consider adding these ingredients –

• Pasta – consider small shells or Datalini pasta.
• Squash – this hearty vegetable comes in many varieties, including butternut and yellow squash.

Cooking Instructions For Carrabba’s Minestrone Soup Recipe at Home

As a reminder, this Minestrone Soup recipe makes a lot of delicious soup.

1. Melt, on medium heat, the Olive Oil and Salted butter in a large (10-Quart) stock pot.
2. Sauté the chopped carrots, onion, celery, and garlic for about 5 minutes or until these vegetables are soft.
3. Add the prosciutto slices whole to the mixture.
4. Add the chopped cabbage, zucchini, and green beans, plus the basil and parsley.
5. Cook these added vegetables and herbs for about 10 minutes or until the vegetables become soft and start to wilt.
6. Next, add the chicken stock, tomatoes, bay leaf, potatoes, and Pecorino Romano Cheese rind.
7. Bring the soup mixture to a boil.
8. Reduce the soup to low heat to simmer for 30 minutes. The potatoes should be soft.
9. Add the three cans of beans – cannellini, garbanzo, and kidney beans.
10. Simmer the soup for 5 more minutes.
11. Remove the prosciutto slices and the rind of Pecorino Romano cheese.
12. Add the grated Pecorino Romano cheese.
13. Stir constantly until the cheese has melted into the soup mixture.
14. Ladle the soup into each bowl.

Bonus Tip – Carrabba’s Italian Grill Minestrone Soup is even more delicious the next day after the soup has a chance to meld its flavors overnight. This soup will keep in the refrigerator for a maximum of 3 days if stored properly in an airtight container.

FAQS

What are some serving suggestions that are perfect side dishes for Carrabba’s Minestrone Soup?

Minestrone is a delicious soup made with bright colors and a blend of hearty vegetables and flavors. Minestrone Soup goes with –

• Garlic Bread.
• Crusty French Bread
• A Caesar, Arugula, Spinach, or Chopped Salad.
• Bruschetta.
• Mozzarella Sticks.
• Roasted seasonal vegetables.
• Grilled Cheese or Monte Cristo Sliders.
• Antipasto Skewers, to name a few.

Is this Minestrone Soup from Carrabba’s vegan?

No, Carrabba’s Minestrone Soup recipe is not vegan or vegetarian because it uses chicken broth, Pecorino Roman cheese as well as prosciutto to create its flavor profile. If you would like to make this a vegetarian soup, simply omit the prosciutto, and instead of chicken broth, choose to use vegetable broth instead.

Can you freeze Carrabba’s Minestrone Soup?

Yes, this Minestrone Soup from Carrabba’s Italian Grill is safe to freeze. Simply let the leftover Minestrone Soup cool down to room temperature, and then pour it into freezer-safe containers before storing. If stored properly, this hearty and satisfying soup will remain fresh in the freezer for up to three months.

To thaw Carrabba’s Minestrone Soup:

• Put the frozen soup in the refrigerator for about a day to defrost. Then reheat the soup on the stovetop with medium to high heat – until the soup is hot.  Or you can……
• Reheat the frozen soup in a soup pan on high heat until the soup is hot and ready to eat.

What is the nutritional content of Carrabba’s Minestrone Soup?

This soup from Carrabba’s offers some incredible nutritional value. First, it has 8 grams of fiber, which helps keep you full and aids in digestion. Each serving has about 260 calories, with 13 grams of protein and assorted vitamins and minerals.

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