Chunky Minestrone

Tonight's dinner was Chunky Minestrone Soup from the BBC Good Food site. It's very similar to the veggie soup I make, but the addition of the cabbage gives it a fun twist. I used mini pasta shells instead of spaghetti because, as my sister Michelle said when she sent me the recipe, "Who ever heard of Minestrone soup with spaghetti in it?" I also didn't process my veggies, I chopped them myself only because I enjoy doing it...it's a kind of therapy for me. The difference was I think it made the soup even chunkier, and the veggies took a little longer to soften than the 10 minutes the recipe calls for. This soup is hearty, healthy, and very easy to make.

Ingredients

• 3 large carrots , roughly chopped
• 1 large onion , roughly chopped
• 4 celery sticks, roughly chopped
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves , crushed
• 2 large potatoes , cut into small dice
• 2 tbsp tomato purée
• 2l stock
• 400g can chopped tomatoes
• 400g can butter or cannellini beans
• 140g spaghetti , snapped into short lengths
• 1⁄2 head savoy cabbage , shredded
• crusty bread , to serve

 

1. In a food processor, whizz the carrots, onion and celery into small pieces. Heat the oil in a pan, add the processed vegetables, garlic and potatoes, then cook over a high heat for 5 mins until softened.
2. Stir in the tomato purée, stock and tomatoes. Bring to the boil, then turn down the heat and simmer, covered, for 10 mins.
3. Tip in the beans and pasta, then cook for a further 10 mins, adding the cabbage for the final 2 mins. Season to taste and serve with crusty bread.

Comments

[John]

Looks delicious! Thanks for posting the recipe - I can't wait to try it.

[carisoprodol]

I want to try that..Looks so very delicious.. I love soup..