Description
Sardinian Herb Soup is a nourishing Blue Zone recipe made with vegetables, herbs, beans, and olive oil. This traditional Sardinian soup is slow-simmered to develop deep flavor while remaining light, wholesome, and comforting.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
- 2 medium carrots, finely chopped
- 2 medium celery stalks, finely chopped
- 1 large fennel bulb, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 5 cups leafy greens (such as kale and cabbage), roughly chopped
- 1 bunch flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped
- 8 cups vegetable broth
- 1 cup cooked white beans (about 15 oz canned, drained and rinsed)
- 1 cup rustic Italian pasta (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup grated pecorino or Parmesan cheese, for serving
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat.
- Add the onion, carrots, celery, fennel, and garlic. Sprinkle in the oregano and red pepper flakes.
- Sauté for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables soften and become fragrant.
- Add the parsley, leafy greens, white beans, vegetable broth, salt, and pepper. Stir well.
- Bring the soup to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to low.
- Cover and simmer for 30–45 minutes to allow the flavors to develop.
- Turn off the heat and let the soup rest with the lid on for 1–2 hours for deeper flavor.
- If using pasta, cook it separately and add it to the soup just before serving.
- Serve hot, topped with grated cheese.
Notes
- The soup tastes even better the next day after the flavors meld.
- For freezing, omit the pasta and add it fresh when reheating.
- You can substitute fennel with leeks if unavailable.
- This soup is very flexible and works well with seasonal vegetables.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 8 mg