Hearty Minestrone Soup

Prep Time:

10 minutes

Cooking Time:

30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 onion
  • 2 carrots
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • 2 celery sticks
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 4 new potatoes cubed
  • 400g chopped tomatoes (tinned is fine)
  • 2 tsp tom puree
  • 2 pints vegetable stock
  • 1 can cannellini beans
  • 50g soup pasta shells (optional)
  • 100g green beans, chopped in diagonals approx 5cm lengths
  • I handful shredded sweetheart cabbage
  • 1 handful parsley
minestrone

Minestrone is a firm family favourite, and great way to get a broad spectrum of nutrients in one pot.

Benefits

Pulses provide the protein source and the base of tomatoes are a great source of Lycopene, a powerful antioxidant. Strong evidence indicates that higher lycopene intake can help protect against prostate, lung, stomach, colon, oral, breast and cervical cancers. Tomatoes are also rich in beta-carotene, folate, potassium, vitamin C, and vitamin E.

Method

  • In a large saucepan, sweat onions with carrots celery, with a little olive oil on medium heat for 10 mins.

  • Add tomato puree and garlic, stir in for 1 minute.

  • Then add tinned tomatoes, stock, potatoes, and bay leaf.

  • Bring to boil, turn down to simmer gently for 1 hour.

  • Towards the end of the hour, add green beans, cabbage and soup pasta shells.

  • After 10 minutes add parsley and remove from heat.

  • Adjust seasoning and serve with a swirl of home-made basil pesto.