Get The Complete Copycat Olive Garden Minestrone Soup Below Enjoy
Stir and simmer for 2 more minutes.
If the soup seems extrathick, add 1-2 cups of water and bring it back up to a simmer. Cook for another minute or so, then salt and pepper again if needed.
Remove from the heat and ladle the minestrone soup into bowls with a sprinkling of more fresh parsley.
Serve warm with your favorite savory side dishes.
Easy And Quick Preparation
The minestrone soup is suitable for beginners and can be prepared in less than 30 minutes. After cutting the vegetables, everything is gradually fried in a pot and then boiled with liquid.
Below you will find the entire recipe with the quantities. Here is an exact step by step guide with pictures:
The chopped onions are fried in a saucepan with olive oil for 3 minutes until they are soft and glassy .
Then add the vegetables and garlic and fry for another 5 minutes. It is good if a light brown crust forms on the bottom of the pot.
Tomato paste is added now. This creates the desired roasted aromas that provide the tangy taste.
After another 3 minutes, the soup is deglazed. Use tomato sauce and vegetable broth / water with a vegetable cube for this process. To make the soup nicely creamy, it needs to boil down now.
Depending on the cooking time of the pasta, it is added and cooked together with the beans and spinach. Finally, the soup is seasoned with salt, pepper and several herbs and served warm. Fresh bread is the best way to go with it.
How To Order Vegan At Olive Garden
Do you have a constant craving for incredible Italian food? If so, your thoughts may stray to this popular pasta restaurant. But, is eating vegan at Olive Garden really an option? At first glance, you may be thinking that there are no plant-based alternatives for any meal. Are the pastas prepared with eggs, the breadsticks brushed with butter, and all of the sauces swimming with sausages?
Not only is it possible, but pretty tasty and mostly plant-based, too! Though the pickings are slim and not exactly spectacular, you will certainly find enough to eat. When ordering, just remember: SPSBsauce, pasta, salad, breadsticksand youre good to go! If you choose wisely, your dinner is sure to be both filling and delicious.
Recommended Reading: 7 Can Taco Soup With Ranch Dressing Mix
Do They Actually Cook At Olive Garden
The chain was founded in Orlando, Florida
Although Italian food and culture inspired Olive Garden, the actual restaurant was founded in Orlando, Florida in 1982. General Mills, the company that owns brands such as Pillsbury and Betty Crocker, launched the chain. Later, the company also started Darden Restaurants, Inc.
Fun Facts About Pasta Fazool
First there was the soup and then there were the pronunciations.
Pasta Fazool, Pasta Fazoola, Pasta e Fagiolo, Pasta e Fasule, Pasta Fagioli, Whatever it is, it all means Pasta and Beans.
Then there were the songs. Way back in the 1920’s Pastafazoola was made famous by a male duo and they sang out “Don’t be a fool, eat pastafazool!”. That song was recorded several times by other artists.
Then there was Dean Martin’s ‘Amore’. He not only sang about a big pizza pie in your eye he also sang When the stars make you drool, just-a like pasta fazool, thats amore
I mean it has got to be good stuff!
Also Check: Aldi Chicken Stock
Top Pick: Minestrone Soup
This vegan classic comes packed with fresh vegetables , beans, and pasta in a light tomato broth. Olive Gardens version of minestrone is just as hearty as any, making it the perfect dish for fueling up on healthy vegetables without feeling unsatisfied. Plus, it can be paired with the breadsticks and salad to create a super filling lunch or light dinner.
Can Vegans Eat At Olive Garden Here’s How To Do It:
Heck yeah! According to Olive Gardens website, the restaurant chain offers hearty, handmade, satisfying and vegetarian or vegan! dishes filled with the same bold, fresh flavors as their regular menu. Perhaps one of the most surprising vegan options at Olive Garden is the restaurants infamous breadsticks, which are always made without dairy, eggs, or any sources of cheese rennet.
Next on their vegan menu is, of course, salad. You will have to request a few substitutions no croutons, oil and vinegar dressing instead of their house dressing, and sans parmesan cheese but with a quick comment to the waiter, Olive Gardens signature salad can be made vegan easily.
Olive Garden also offers eggplant parmigiana, a historically vegetarian pasta dish made with eggplant and fried with parmesan cheese and marinara sauce. Its important to note that Olive Gardens marinara sauce is 100 percent vegan, so the only request you need to make, to ensure it’s plant-based, is to ask your waiter to hold the cheese .
A post shared by Olive Garden on Sep 18, 2020 at 1:29pm PDT
Recommended Reading: Copycat Knorr Vegetable Soup Mix
How Much Does It Cost
Whether you are looking for a great appetizer or a lighter meal, Olive Garden’s minestrone soup is listed on the menu for a great price. You can get a whole bowl for just $6.79 . If you choose to get the combo meal, which also includes breadsticks and salad, it’s $9.99. It’s even cheaper when you order it for a weekday lunch at just $7.99. Other options for soup sizes include a whole gallon, which serves 12, for $24.49 or a half-gallon that serves six people for $14.99.
With these size options, you could easily get a bowl of soup for a quick and delicious lunch for a steal. However, you could also order pick-up or delivery from the restaurant chain and have a batch of your favorite freshly made soup to enjoy throughout a week or two. No matter what your needs, Olive Garden has the perfect selection of soup sizes at great prices available for order.
Vegan Zuppa Toscana Ingredients And Substitutions:
- Beyond meat sausage: I use spicy hot Italian which I highly recommend for best results
- Russet potatoes: can use any potatoes but russets lends a perfect creaminess to soup
- Kale: use any type of kale. I usually buy the pre washed and chopped kale in a bag and just discard the stem pieces. Can substitute with spinach or swiss chard if you like.
- Cashew cream: I used cashews, water, vinegar to replace dairy milk and it worked like a charm. For nut free could try using vegan cream cheese or coconut milk
- Onions: I typically use yellow onions but any kind will work
- Garlic: gotta have fresh garlic folks!
- Vegetable broth: I use vegetarian better than bouillon no chicken and beef soup base, adds incredible flavour, its a must!
- Spices: ground fennel, Italian seasoning , crushed red pepper flakes, salt and pepper
- Nutritional yeast: adds cheesy element
Read Also: Forgotten Chicken And Rice Casserole
Find Out What Vegan Food To Order At The Og
Get more Spoon in your feed.
They say that when you’re at Olive Garden, you’re family. But what about if you’re vegan? Although most of the menu items are covered in meat and cheese, it turns out it’s totally possible to order some vegan Olive Garden favorites.
As a vegan and Italian, I can also confirm that withholding excessive amounts of meat and melty cheese will actually make your meal more authentic, as Italian fare tends to be less goopy and fresher than you’d think. Here are five vegan vegan Olive Garden menu items you can order next time you find yourself at the OG.
#SpoonTip: Olive Garden has a user-friendly guide on all their vegan and vegetarian options that you can reference as well.
Do Italians Put Butter On Their Bread
In Italy, bread is not better with butter. Butter never meets bread in Italy. except for a breakfast of a slice of toast with butter and marmellata or an after-school snack of bread and butter and Nutella. At lunch or dinner, Italians wouldnt think of slathering butter on the bread from the basket on the table.
You May Like: Pot Roast With Onion Soup Mix
Ingredients Of The Olive Garden Vegan Soup
Important We use amazon affiliate links to recommend the products etc on our blog. Please refer to our Privacy Policy for more information.
The original recipe calls for the following ingredients.
PROTIP: Since most of these ingredients are canned, I recommend to thoroughly wash the canned beans in a colander under running water. Or you may purchase low sodium canned ingredients. As the recipe calls for canned ingredients, I did not have to add any extra salt to this soup. Even after washing them under cold running water, they were good.
Vegan Minestrone soup
What Is Zuppa Toscana
Zuppa Toscana is an Olive Garden soup made with potatoes and kale in a creamy broth. It also has chunks Italian sausage. I’ve also seen recipes that call for bacon, though I’m not sure if Olive Garden’s version has that.
I’ve never had the original Zuppa Toscana, but let me tell you, the vegan version is soooooooo good. I can see why so many people asked for this recipe.
Also Check: Chicken Pot Pie With Campbell’s Cream Of Mushroom Soup
So A Vegan Walks Into Olive Garden
- Sarah Von Alt
If youre new to vegan eating, finding things to eat when youre on the road or out with friends can sometimes feel overwhelming. Luckily, many of your favorite chains offer delicious plant-based options. Here are some of our favorite vegan options at Olive Garden:
BreadsticksThe garlic butter on these bad boys is dairy-free, and so is the marinara dipping sauce, so dig in!
Bruschetta CapreseBreadstick crostini topped with Roma tomatoes, basil olive oil, and balsamic drizzle. Be sure to ask for this appetizer sans cheese.
House SaladAsk your server to skip the croutons and dress the salad with oil and vinegar.
Pasta With Traditional MarinaraNearly all of Olive Gardens pasta selection is vegan, including the cavatappi, angel hair, and rigatoni. There are even gluten-free pasta options!
Steamed BroccoliOK, maybe its not the most exciting option, but its an easy way to get more veg into your meal.
Peach-Mango SmoothieThis and the Strawberry-Banana Smoothie are 100 percent dairy-free and delicious.
Pushing for more animal-friendly menu options is a great way to make vegan eating easier for you and the millions of Americans who are moving away from meat. for five easy tips on getting more vegan food at your favorite restaurant.
*Since menu items may vary from restaurant to restaurant, be sure to let your servers know that youre vegan to ensure no animal products are used!
What Else Can I Add To The Soup
There are lots of variations you can make to this soup. It is a hearty and forgiving soup that compliments a wide variety of beans and veggies. Here are some of our favorite combinations and additions.
- Vegetables: butternut squash, peas, asparagus, yellow squash, or green beans
- Beans: chickpeas, cannellini beans, black eye peas, barley, or millet
- Add-onsbased on preference: pasta, tortellini, quinoa, or brown lentil
Recommended Reading: Campbells Soup Chicken And Rice Recipe
A Great Option For Multiple Food Allergies
My daughter is allergic to milk, egg and peanut. She loves Olive Garden. We have always had a good experience and on several occasions a manager has checked on us without our prompting to make sure she is well cared for. She loves the breadsticks and always orders pasta with olive oil and garlic with an Italian sausage. Would definitely recommend
How Does It Taste
According to Chow Hound, the minestrone soup at Olive Garden ranks third out of the four soups available. However, that doesn’t mean it is bad by any stretch. It simply wasn’t the reviewer’s favorite. But for those who don’t eat meat, or anyone who wants a vegetable-filled soup, the reviewer found the soup to be quite flavorful. In fact, the only thing the Chow Hound reviewer disliked about the soup was that the pieces of tomatoes were far too large for their liking.
Olive Garden describes the soup as having a light tomato broth, so this minestrone soup should not be as heavy as other creamier soups. The vegetables in the soup also meld together to bring out all kinds of delicious flavors, so anyone who loves vegetable soup should love this pasta-filled minestrone too. The soup is also well seasoned with salt, so there’s no need to pick up the shaker when the bowl comes to the table. You can simply grab a spoon and dive right in.
Read Also: Potato Soup Frozen Hash Browns
How To Make Olive Garden Pasta Fagioli Soup
And there you have it! A rich and easy soup that will feed a lot of people.
Looking For Vegetarianand Vegan Options
Olive Garden is proud to offer a broad menu of vegetarian and vegan friendly mealoptions. Our chefs have carefully considered how we can please every appetite, including the mostcareful and food-conscious diners out there. From appetizer through dessert, every course offers avariety of choices for guests seeking a vegan or vegetarian restaurant.We’re committed to transparency around the options we offer, so guests have easy access tothe nutritional and dietary information they need to make the right dining choices for themselvesand their family. For more information about our vegetarian and vegan offerings, read on.
Below we answer the following questions…
Will Olive Gardens vegetarian and vegan friendlymeals genuinely satisfy my appetite as well as my dietary needs?
“Oh, I can find something to eat,” you tell yourmeat-eating friends and family members with a sinking sensation, all too aware that “vegetarianfriendly” usually means lettuce.Thankfully, at Olive Garden, delicious meetsconscientious. We offer hearty, hand-made, satisfying and vegetarian or vegan! dishes filledwith the same bold, fresh flavors as our regular menu. At Olive Garden, you wont be forced tochoose between a meal that fits your vegetarian/vegan lifestyle and one that’s filling andsubstantial. Even our world-famous unlimited breadsticks and salad can be ordered to suit veganand vegetarian diets.
What kinds of vegetarian and vegan friendly dishescan I expect?
What if I want something else?
You May Like: Baked Chicken With Onion Soup Mix
How To Veganize Zuppa Toscana
In place of the dairy you’d find in most copycat Zuppa Toscana recipes, I’ve used coconut milk. Coconut milk, just like heavy cream is super fatty, so it gives you a richer and creamier soup than you’d get with other types of non-dairy milk.
I did include vegan sausage when I made this at home, but if you’re not into that kind of thing you can totally leave it out! I used Field roast Italian sausage links, and they worked great. You could also skip the sausage and include some vegan bacon, like coconut bacon or the tempeh bacon from this vegan bean with bacon soup.
Vegan Olive Garden Minestrone Soup
Published: » By: Kylie » This post may contain affiliate links. »
This copycat Olive Garden minestrone soup comes together in about 30 minutes and it cooks all in one pot! This easy soup is loaded with fresh veggies, beans, and al dente pasta in a delicious tomato broth. It’s perfect for meal prep or an easy weeknight dinner!
Recommended Reading: Burgers With Lipton Onion Soup Mix
Vegan Options At Olive Garden
We were really impressed when we researched the vegan options at Olive Garden. We were even more impressed with effort they have put forth on their website to explain exactly how they accommodate vegans and vegetarians .
They make one feel pretty reassured that they arent going to end up with egg noodles in a vegan pasta for example.
Looks like a vegan put together their info or at the very least had a lot of influence into Olive Gardens approach. So, without further ado, here are all the vegan options at Olive Garden:
Recipe Notes And Tips
Here are a few tips for making this soup:
- Try to cut all the veggies more or less the same size so that they cook at the same rate.
- You can use fresh or frozen green beans, whichever you prefer.
- Its ok to change up the veggies depending on what you have on hand or whats in season. Other great veggie options are russet potatoes, butternut squash, sweet potatoes, leeks, kale.
- To get rid of all that extra sodium, be certain to drain and rinse your canned beans before adding them to the soup.
- This is a vegan soup that is hearty enough to serve as a main course, but if youd like more protein, add some pieces of cooked Italian sausage. You can make up a big pot of this tasty soup ahead of time.
- You can freeze this soup, but keep in mind that the pasta and vegetables may be a little softer after thawing and reheating.
Please feel free to send me a comment on this soup. I always want to hear from my readers. And, be sure to take a look at more copycat Olive Garden soup recipes.
Recommended Reading: Campbells Chicken And Rice Casserole Recipe Easy
