Description
This comforting Italian-inspired soup is packed with creamy white beans, rich tomatoes, fresh spinach, and tender pasta in a flavorful coconut-based broth. It’s perfect for a cozy meal and can be made in the slow cooker or stovetop.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 1 (14 oz) can full-fat coconut milk
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, drained of oil
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 (28 oz) can diced tomatoes with Italian seasoning
- 2 (19 oz) cans low-sodium white beans, drained and rinsed
- 3 cups reduced-sodium vegetable broth
- 2 cups chopped fresh spinach
- 1 cup whole grain or regular rotini pasta (gluten-free, if needed)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Sauté Aromatics: Heat olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook until softened and fragrant, about 3-4 minutes. (If using a slow cooker with a sauté function, you can do this step directly in the pot.)
- Blend the Broth: In a blender, combine coconut milk, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and salt. Blend on high until smooth and creamy.
- Assemble the Soup: Transfer the sautéed onions and blended coconut mixture to the slow cooker. Add diced tomatoes, white beans, and vegetable broth. Stir to combine.
- Cook:
- Slow Cooker: Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours or high for 2-3 hours.
- Stovetop: Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and let simmer for 30-40 minutes.
- Add Pasta & Spinach: In the last 30 minutes of cooking, add the dry pasta and stir. In the final 5 minutes, stir in the chopped spinach until wilted.
- Season & Serve: Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Serve warm with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil, if desired.
Notes
- Blending the coconut milk & sun-dried tomatoes creates a smooth, creamy base for the soup. A mini blender works great for this step.
- For a kid-friendly version, chop the spinach finely or use frozen chopped spinach for convenience.
- Adjust thickness: The soup thickens as it sits, so add extra broth if needed before serving.
- For make-ahead prep, cook the pasta separately and add it just before serving to avoid it becoming too soft.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: per serving
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Fat: 8g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 10g