White Bean Vegetable Soup

By mommypop

Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 cup thinly sliced carrots
• 1 cup diced onion
• 3/4 cup diced celery
• 1 medium zucchini, diced
• 1 (15-oz can or 1 1/2 cups dried and cooked) can Great Northern beans or cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 14-oz can diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 14-oz can fat-free, reduced sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth
• 3 cups water
• 3 Tbsp long grain brown rice
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp fresh ground pepper
• 1 1-lb pkg frozen turkey or beef meatballs, optional

Preparation

Step 1

1. Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add carrots, onion, celery and zucchini. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened, about 7 mins. Add beans, tomatoes, broth, water, rice, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper.
2. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes.
3. If using meatballs, cook according to package directions. During last 10 minutes of cooking soup, add meatballs.