Roman Holiday Soup
Roman Holiday Soup is a hearty, flavorful Italian-inspired dish featuring vegetables, beans, pasta, and herbs, perfect for a comforting and nutritious meal.
Ingredients
- 1 cup chopped onion ⓘ
- 1 1/2 cups sliced carrots ⓘ
- 1 tablespoon olive oil ⓘ
- 1 1/2 cups sliced green beans ⓘ
- 1/2 cup uncooked macaroni ⓘ
- 6 cups defatted chicken broth ⓘ
- 1/2 teaspoon salt ⓘ
- 1/4 cup tomato paste ⓘ
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed ⓘ
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped or 1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil ⓘ
- 6 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese ⓘ
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil ⓘ
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch or 2 tablespoons flour ⓘ
- 2 tablespoons cold water ⓘ
- 2 cups drained, canned or cooked white beans ⓘ
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, sauté onion and carrots in olive oil until the onion is translucent.
- Add green beans, macaroni, chicken broth, and salt. Bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat and simmer about 10 minutes or until vegetables are tender and macaroni is cooked.
- Stir in tomato paste, crushed garlic, basil, and drained white beans. Heat through.
- Optional: stir in grated Parmesan cheese before serving.
Tips & Substitutions
For added flavor, consider using homemade chicken broth instead of store-bought. If you're out of macaroni, any small pasta will work, or you can use cooked rice as a substitute. Fresh herbs can elevate the dish, so feel free to add parsley or thyme in addition to basil. For a vegetarian option, replace chicken broth with vegetable broth and omit the cheese.
Serving Suggestions
Serve the soup hot, garnished with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and a sprinkle of basil. It pairs beautifully with a simple green salad or crusty bread for dipping. This dish also complements Italian recipes like Chicken Parmigiano for a satisfying meal.
Storage & Reheating
Leftover Roman Holiday Soup can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, simply warm it on the stove over medium heat until heated through. If the soup thickens after refrigeration, add a splash of water or broth to reach your desired consistency.
Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)
Each serving of Roman Holiday Soup contains roughly 2277 calories, with 17g protein, 83g carbohydrates, and 216g fat. It is an excellent source of vitamin A (333% of the Daily Value), iron (51% of the Daily Value), and dietary fiber (39% of the Daily Value). Note that it is relatively high in sodium, at 3000mg per serving (130% of the Daily Value).
Estimated from ingredients & per-serving nutrition — verify against package labels for allergies or strict diets.
* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this soup ahead of time?
Yes, you can make Roman Holiday Soup a day in advance. In fact, the flavors often deepen as it sits. Just be sure to store it properly in the refrigerator and reheat it gently on the stove.
Can I freeze this soup?
While you can freeze the soup, the texture of the pasta may suffer. It's best to freeze the soup without the macaroni, and then cook fresh pasta when you're ready to serve. This will help maintain the best texture.
What other vegetables can I add?
You can customize your soup by adding vegetables like zucchini, bell peppers, or spinach. Just make sure to adjust the cooking time accordingly to ensure all vegetables are tender before serving.
Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).