Dinner + Easy Healthy Recipes + Health & Lifestyle + Lunch + Lunch/Dinner + Nutritious Foods + Quick Healthy Meals

Minestrone Soup 

27 July 2021
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This super nourishing and hearty minestrone soup is a classic winter warmer. We’ve amped up the veggie content and used pulse pasta (made from legumes) to increase the total protein content. Make a big batch and enjoy over a couple of days or freeze in portions for later! It’s cosy comfort food at its best.

Serves 4

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 leek, finely diced 
  • 2 carrots, finely diced
  • 2 stalks celery, finely diced
  • sea salt & black pepper
  • 2 bay leaves 
  • 2 garlic clove, crushed
  • 1 zucchini, finely diced
  • ¼ bunch parsley, stems chopped & leaves reserved
  • 4 cup (1L) vegetable stock
  • 1 400g (14.1oz) tin tomatoes
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste 
  • 200g (7oz) pasta of choice, we used pulse pasta 
  • 1 400g (14.1oz) tin kidney beans, or lentils, drained and rinsed 

To serve

  • 1/8 bunch parsley, leaves picked 
  • 30g (1oz) parmesan, grated, optional 

 

Method

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large soup pot. Add the leek, carrot, celery and season with sea salt and black pepper. Stir to combine and place a lid on the pot. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally to avoid sticking. 
  2. Once softened, add the bay leaves, garlic, zucchini and parsley stems. Sauté for a further 3 minutes. Then pour in the vegetable stock, tomatoes and tomato paste. Bring the soup mix to a boil before reducing the heat to a simmer for 15 minutes. 
  3. Whilst the soup is simmering, cook the pasta as per the packet instructions. Drain and rinse. 
  4. Add the cooked pasta to the soup along with the rinsed beans. Season to taste and serve topped with fresh parsley leaves and grated parmesan, if using. 

Notes

Pasta options we recommend include: pulse pasta, brown rice pasta or buckwheat pasta. If you tolerate gluten you can also opt for wholemeal or spelt pasta. If using regular pasta you can add an additional protein source if you wish e.g. stir in an extra tin of beans or serve topped with a boiled egg each. 

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