Homemade Olive Garden Minestrone Soup - Hearty Italian Classic

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons avocado or olive oil
• 1 cup finely diced onion
• 2 stalks celery, cut into ½-inch slices
• 1 cup carrots, quartered and cut into ½-inch pieces
• 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
• 6 cups regular sodium vegetable broth
• 1 (15-ounce) can fire-roasted tomatoes
• 3 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1 tablespoon sugar (optional)
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• ¼ - ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1 zucchini or yellow squash, quartered and cut into ½-inch pieces
• 1 (15-ounce) can cannelini beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 (15-ounce) can red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• ½ cup ditalini or elbow pasta
• ¾ cup frozen green beans
• 2 cups coarsely chopped spinach