I suggest using canned black beans, but note that the sodium levels are going to be very high.  If you have time, it is always best to cook your own beans at home.  If you start soaking them the night before you can have them cooked up and ready to use after about a hour of cooking.  Of course, if you’re pressed for time, you can always use the canned beans.  I know Bush’s offers a reduced sodium black bean that is about half of the salt you get in the regular ones without compromising on the taste.  So, let’s get cooking:

One of the secrets to making a good tasting onion soup is how you cook the onions themselves.  Go slow and don’t rush it.  An onion is a root vegetable, which means it’s sugar content is very high.  Anytime you’re cooking something with sugar in it, you run the risk of making it bitter by burning the sugars.  Same holds true for onions.  Slowly cook these and don’t let them brown.  You’ll want them soft and translucent.

The Recipe:

• 3 Tbsp vegetable oil
• 6 med white onions – sliced
• 1 cup water
• 8 cups beef broth
• 2 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 8 pieces of Texas toast or 4 hamburger buns
• 8 slices provolone cheese or other white cheese
• 8 teaspoons shredded Parmesan cheese (the fresh shredded is best)

Directions:

1. In large saucepan heat 3 Tbsp oil over a medium to high heat.
2. Add onion and saute slowly for 20 minutes until soft.  Do not let them brown. Turn down the heat if needed.
3. Add water, beef broth, water, garlic powder, salt and pepper to the onions and bring to a boil.
4. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 45 minutes.
5. While the soup is cooking, prepare your toast or croutons.
6. If you’re using hamburger buns (onion rolls work well too), cut the crowns off the tops so they’re the same thickness at the bottoms of the buns.  The crowns can be thrown away.
7. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
8. Bake the bread in the oven for 15 minutes or until golden brown and cripsy.  These should be cooked directly on the racks.
9. Spoon about 1 to 1 1/2 cups of soup into an “oven safe” bowl.
10. Top the soup with a slice of the baked bread.
11. Place a slice of provolone cheese on top of the bread.
12. Sprinkle 1/2 tsp shredded parmesan cheese on top of the provolone.
13. Set your oven on broil and place the bowl of soup on the middle rack.
14. Broil the soup until the cheese melts and starts to brown in spots (approx 5 minutes).
15. Sprinkle 1/2 tsp shredded parmesan cheese on top and server very hot.

Too many people are making this with Valvetta cheese because of the cheesy flavor of the soup.  That’s wrong.  The base for thickening this up is rather simple.  Try this recipe at home and you’ll be amazed at how close it tastes.  Please comment below to let me know what you think.

Ingredients

• Potatoes (6-8 depending on the size)
• 1 Onion, diced
• 4 14oz cans of chicken broth
• 2 cups water
• Celery salt to taste
• Pepper to taste
• 1 dash of basil
• 1 dash of sugar
• 2 sticks of butter
• 3/4 cup of flour
• 1 1/2 cups heavy cream

Garnish

• 4-6 pieces of cooked bacon, chopped
• Chopped chives (amount depends on your preference – I like a lot)
• 2 cups shredded Monterrey Jack / Cheddar cheese blend.

Directions

1. Boil the potatoes, peel and set aside (someone suggested you rub with kosher sale and bake the potatoes, leaving the skin on)
2. In a large soup pot, melt the butter over a low to medium heat, being careful not to burn it.
3. Add the onion and cook until softened.
4. Add the flour and stir while it cooks for about 3 minutes.
5. Slowly add the chicken broth, water, salt, pepper, basil and sugar.
6. Bring to a boil, stirring often with a wire whisk.
7. Gradually add the heavy cream until you’ve reached the proper consistency.
8. Chop the potatoes into bite sized cubes and add to the soup.
9. Simmer for approximately 5 minutes to bring the potatoes to temperature.
10. Ladle the soup into individual bowls and garnish with chopped bacon, chives and the cheese blend.
11. Enjoy!

If you substitute cauliflower for the potatoes, you can make a great low-carb Atkins friendly soup that will taste exactly like the original restaurant recipe from The Olive Garden™.  Another option would be to cook this up in a programmable crock pot with the pre-cooked sausage and backon in there.  It will be ready for you when you get home.  Just add the kale and cream before serving.

Serve this with a nice basket of Olive Garden™ Breadsticks and their house salad. A wonderful lunch or dinner meal for you and your family.

Recipe

• 1 lb. spicy Italian sausage – crumbled
• 1/2 lb. smoked bacon – chopped
• 1 qt. water
• (2) 14.5 oz. cans (about 3 2/3 cups) chicken broth
• 2 lg. russet potatoes – scrubbed clean, cubed
• 2 garlic cloves – peeled, crushed
• 1 med. onion – peeled, chopped
• 2 cups chopped kale OR Swiss chard
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• salt and pepper – to taste

Directions

1. Brown sausage in a pan over medium to medium-high heat, breaking up into small pieces as it cooks.
2. Drain sausage and set to the side.
3. Brown bacan in a pan over medium-high heat. Be careful not to cook crispy.
4. Drain bacon and set to the side.
5. Place broth, water, garlic, potatoes, and onion in a pot.
6. Simmer over medium heat until potatoes are tender.
7. Add sausage and bacon to the soup.
8. Simmer for 10 minutes.
9. Add kale and cream to pot.
10. Season with salt and pepper.
11. Heat thoroughly.

Olive Garden™ Minestrone soup not only tastes amazing, it leaves you feeling quite full. One of the most searched for restaurant recipes, you’ll be proud to serve this to your family or friends. This isn’t the quickest recipe, but it’s definitely worth the effort.

I heard the real secret on this is to add a bit of red wine to the stock.  I didn’t put that into the “official” recipe, but you can feel free to experiment.

Recipe

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 small minced white onion
• 1/2 cup chopped zucchini
• 1/2 cup frozen cut Italian green beans
• 1/2 stalk minced celery
• 4 cloves minced garlic
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• 2 cans (15 oz) red kidney beans, drained
• 2 cans (15 oz) great northern or small white beans, drained
• 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
• 1/2 cup shredded carrot
• 2 tablespoons minced parsley
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
• 3 cups hot water
• 4 cups fresh baby spinach
• 1/2 cup small shell pasta

Measure olive oil into a large stock pot and heat on medium.

Put the onion, celery, garlic, green beans, and zucchini into the pot and saute for about 5 minutes or until the onions become see-through.

Add the vegetable broth, drained tomatoes, beans, carrots, hot water and spices to the pot.

Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer for 20 minutes.

Add the spinach leaves and the pasta and cook for an additional 20 minutes.