Copycat Olive Garden Minestrone Soup

Name: Copycat Olive Garden Minestrone Soup
Ingredients: 2 tbsp. olive oil; 1 medium yellow onion, diced (about 1½ cups); 3 medium carrots, scrubbed and diced (about 1½ cups); 1 large zucchini or 2 medium zucchini (about 1 lb total), diced (about 3 cups); 4 cloves garlic, minced; 1 bay leaf; 1 tsp. Italian seasoning; 2 tbsp. tomato paste; 8 c. low-sodium vegetable broth; 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes; 1 (14.5-ounce) can kidney beans, drained but not rinsed; 1 (14.5-ounce) can cannellini beans, drained but not rinsed; 1 c. small shells pasta; 0.5 tsp. freshly ground black pepper; 0.25 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes