Hearty Beef Minestrone Soup - Canadian Beef | Canada Beef

Ingredients

• 1 lb (500 g) Extra Lean Ground Beef Round or Sirloin or Extra Lean Ground Beef
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 cup (750 mL) frozen mixed vegetables
• 1 ½ tsp (7 mL) dried Italian herb seasoning
• ¼ tsp (1 mL) chili pepper flakes (optional)
• 1 can (28 oz/796 mL) diced tomatoes
• 1 pkg (900 mL) sodium-reduced chicken broth
• 1 can (213 mL) tomato sauce
• 1 cup (250 mL) shredded fresh spinach (optional)
• ¼ cup (50 mL) chopped fresh parsley (optional)
• ½ cup (125 mL) broken whole wheat spaghetti or alphabet pasta
• ½ cup (125 mL) kidney beans, drained and rinsed (optional)