Name: Economical minestrone soup
Cook time: 90 min
Total time: 90 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 2 tablespoon oil or butter; 1 large onion, diced; 4 carrots, chopped into rounds; 1 parsnip, peeled and cubed; 1 broccoli stalk, chopped; 2 sticks of celery, chopped; 1 cup silverbeet or spinach, chopped; 1 leek, halved and sliced; 1/2 cup kumara or pumpkin, diced; 8-10 cups water (fresh or frozen saved vegetable water is ideal); 420 gram tin tomatoes; 1/2 cup mixed dried beans, soaked overnight and drained; handful of macaroni elbows; salt and pepper, to taste; chopped parsley, to garnish; crusty bread rolls, to serve

Economical minestrone soup

This Nici Wickes minestrone soup is a favourite for making a hearty, nourishing meal for the whole family for next to nothing. Who knew economical could taste so good?

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Serves 6

Cook

1H 30M

Ingredients

2 tablespoon oil or butter

1 large onion, diced

4 carrots, chopped into rounds

1 parsnip, peeled and cubed

1 broccoli stalk, chopped

2 sticks of celery, chopped

1 cup silverbeet or spinach, chopped

1 leek, halved and sliced

1/2 cup kumara or pumpkin, diced

8-10 cups water (fresh or frozen saved vegetable water is ideal)

420 gram tin tomatoes

1/2 cup mixed dried beans, soaked overnight and drained

handful of macaroni elbows

salt and pepper, to taste

chopped parsley, to garnish

crusty bread rolls, to serve

Method

1.Heat the oil in your largest pot and sauté all the chopped vegetables for 5 minutes, stirring to mix them up.

2.Add the water, tomatoes and drained beans. Gently bring to the boil and simmer until the beans are cooked through – about 1-1½ hours.

3.When the beans are tender, add the macaroni and continue cooking until the pasta is cooked. Season.

4.Serve with a sprinkling of parsley on top and crusty bread rolls. Enjoy!

You can substitute the dried beans with tinned cannellini, borlotti or kidney beans – just drain them well and add them with the pasta (Step 2). – Use any vegetables you like, such as swedes, potatoes, turnips or fresh beans.

Note

Nici Wickes

A published cookbook author, entertainer, broadcaster, food stylist, recipe developer and food editor Nici Wickes is all about no-fuss, confidence-building cooking.

Ingredients

Method

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