11 Best Herbs and Spices For Minestrone Soup

Minestrone soup is one of my favorite dishes to enjoy all year round—no matter the season, it’s always comforting and nourishing.

I don’t think I can express my love for minestrone enough!

But if you really want to take your soup up a notch and make every bite irresistible, nothing does the trick like adding some flavor-packed herbs and spices.

Here are my favorite picks for spicing up your homemade minestrone: an essential list of the 11 best herbs and spices!

Read Also:

• The 10 Best Toppings for Minestrone Soup
• Minestrone Soup Wine Pairing – The Best Wines for Minestrone Soups

1. Thyme

Read Also: What To Serve With Minestrone Soup – 25 Best Side Dishes

Thyme is an excellent addition to minestrone soup and other dishes!

It has a sharp, almost minty flavor that’s earthy with floral hints.

It is slightly sweet and peppery, making it a great complement to many other ingredients.

When adding thyme to your soup, start off with about 1 teaspoon of the dried herb and adjust according to taste.

Thyme pairs well with garlic, onion, oregano, rosemary, and basil for an aromatic mix that will take your soups up a notch in flavor.

You can also try experimenting by adding it to vegetables like carrots or potatoes before roasting them – delicious!

Read Also: 12 Salads That Go With Minestrone Soup

2. Oregano

Oregano is one of the most commonly used herbs in Mediterranean cuisine due to its intense flavor.

It has a warm, earthy, and slightly bitter taste with hints of mint and hay.

When it comes to minestrone soup, oregano adds an additional layer of depth and complexity that makes the dish even more delicious.

When adding oregano to your soup, start off with a small amount – about 1/4 teaspoon for every 4 servings – as too much can overpower the other flavors in the broth.

Once you’ve stirred it in and tasted it, you can always add more if needed!

Oregano pairs particularly well with ingredients such as garlic, tomatoes, basil, bell peppers, and onions – all classic ingredients found in minestrone soup.

You can also add some chili flakes for a bit of heat or some Parmesan cheese for added richness!

3. Garlic Powder

Garlic powder has a sweeter and less assertive flavor than fresh garlic.

It’s great to add as an ingredient in many dishes – one of the most popular being minestrone soup!

When adding garlic powder to your minestrone soup, start with half a teaspoon first, then adjust according to your taste preferences.

A little goes a long way when it comes to this flavor enhancer!

Garlic powder pairs well with many savory ingredients such as onions, celery, carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, oregano, and basil.

These herbs and vegetables enhance the flavor of the garlic powder making for an even tastier dish!

4. Onion Powder

Onion powder has a strong, pungent flavor that can add depth and complexity to your dishes.

It has the same sharpness as fresh onions, but with a slightly sweet undertone.

Depending on how much onion flavor you want in your soup, you could use between one teaspoon to one tablespoon of onion powder per batch of minestrone soup.

Onion powder pairs well with other spices like garlic powder, paprika, oregano, thyme, and bay leaves.

You can also mix it in with ground beef or turkey burgers for an added layer of flavor.

5. Salt

Salt tastes like, well, salt!

It has a salty taste that’s unmistakable and adds depth of flavor to whatever dish you’re making.

As for how much salt should be added to minestrone soup, it all depends on personal preference.

Start with a small amount and adjust as desired; if the soup is still too bland after adding some salt then feel free to add more.

Salt pairs well not just with minestrone soup but with many other ingredients too.

Salt works especially well when combined with herbs such as thyme, oregano, and rosemary; vegetables like carrots, onions, and celery; legumes like lentils and beans; and proteins like chicken or beef stock.

Salt can also help bring out the sweetness in tomatoes or emphasize the nutty flavor of nuts – so don’t be afraid to experiment!

6. Black Pepper

Black pepper is an essential ingredient in many dishes, especially minestrone soup!

It has a sharp, penetrating aroma and a characteristic woody, piney flavor.

Black pepper is hot and biting to taste, so a little goes a long way.

I recommend adding just 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper at first and then tasting it before you add more as desired.

Black pepper also pairs very well with garlic and onion – two main ingredients in minestrone soup – as well as other vegetables like carrots or celery.

Additionally, black pepper works great with herbs such as oregano or thyme for extra flavor.

7. Parsley

Parsley is a flavorful herb that has a clean, peppery taste with subtle earthy undertones.

Its unique flavor comes from its natural aromatic oil which runs through each leaf.

It’s an incredibly versatile ingredient and can be used in many different dishes to enhance the flavors of the other ingredients.

When it comes to adding parsley to your minestrone soup, less is more!

A teaspoon or two should do the trick – you don’t want it to overpower all the other flavors in the soup.

Parsley pairs well with tomatoes, carrots, garlic, onions, and beans so feel free to add some extra if desired.

Apart from soups like minestrone, parsley also goes great with fish dishes as well as pesto sauces and salads.

Add some freshness by using it as a garnish on top of your meals too!

8. Basil

Basil has a unique flavor to it that can be described as a balance between sweet and savory, with hints of mint, anise, and pepper.

The initial taste is quite strong but its sweetness comes out in the end.

It pairs particularly well with tomatoes and garlic, which are two ingredients often found in minestrone soup.

When adding basil to your minestrone soup, start by adding 1-2 tablespoons per serving.

You can always add more depending on how you like your soup to taste.

Basil also goes really well with other herbs such as oregano or thyme so feel free to experiment!

Basil is a great way to bring depth of flavor into any dish without overpowering the other flavors present – making it perfect for minestrone soup!

9. Bay Leaf

Bay leaves have a subtle, earthy, and slightly bitter flavor that is often described as similar to oregano.

When used in cooking, one bay leaf should be enough for the average pot of soup or stew; you can add an extra if desired.

Bay leaves pair well with many other ingredients commonly found in soups like tomatoes, beans, potatoes, and carrots.

They also go great with garlic, onion, and herbs such as thyme, sage, and rosemary.

10 Fennel Seeds

Fennel seeds have a light, sweet, anise-like taste that is very similar to licorice.

When added to dishes like minestrone soup, it gives it a warm and fragrant flavor.

Since fennel seeds are quite potent, you don’t need too much of it when cooking – 1/2 teaspoon should be enough for every serving.

Fennel pairs well with ingredients like garlic, tomatoes, olive oil, onions, and carrots which are all commonly found in minestrone soup.

11. Italian Seasoning

Italian seasoning is a blend of dried herbs with an earthy, piney flavor that’s subtly sweet and peppery.

It’s perfect for adding depth to soups like minestrone!

When adding Italian seasoning to soup, it’s best to start small.

Usually, 1 teaspoon is enough when making 4-6 servings of soup.

Italian seasoning pairs well with other ingredients including garlic, onions, carrots, and celery which are all staples in minestrone soup.

You can also use tomatoes or tomato paste for an additional boost of flavor as the acidic tomatoes will play off the herbs nicely.

Additionally, you may want to add some fresh basil or oregano if you have them on hand – they complement Italian seasonings’ flavors so well!

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