What can I add to my homemade minestrone soup? Something missing......

[mymatemarmite]

I have made a big pan of minestrone soup and there is something definitely missing! I have seasoned it.

This is what I have put in so far :
potato
carrot
leek
onion
tin of tomatoes
celery
garlic
salt and pepper
tomato puree
peas
pasta

Any ideas?

always onions and celery sweated slowly, for all soups.

minestrone wants some sort of smokey pig based base also.

parmesan ends are brilliant for adding depth of flavour to veg soups

sometimes a spritz of lemon can help, or maybe a splidge of balsamic vinegar.

I like the thick Winter version of minestrone with dark spinach/cabbage and usually reserve a couple of portions to cook with "ditale" pasta the next day.
One peeled but whole potato which you mush up gently before serving helps thicken it up. Jamie Oliver trick.
Red lentils cook away to hearty sludge in 20 minutes.
And I use the leftover pan juices (cooled in the fridge but not the oil) from roast chicken if I've got it. Salty and distinctive flavour.