This morning I made a batch of soup. I love soups in the cooler weather, just like I love salads in the warmer weather. Soups are cheap and soul warming.
Here is the one I made today:
Bean + Tomato Soup
Ingredients (serves 4)
1 tbs extra virgin olive oil
4 slices pancetta, chopped
1 leek (white part only), rinsed, finely chopped
1 carrot, finely chopped
1 tbs finely chopped fresh rosemary leaves
1 tsp tomato paste
410g canned crushed tomatoes
1.25L (5 cups) chicken stock
800g canned borlotti beans, drained, rinsed
16 cherry tomatoes on the vine, roasted
Method
Heat the oil in a large saucepan, then add the pancetta, leek, carrot and rosemary. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes until the vegetables soften.
Add the tomato paste and cook for a further minute, then stir in the crushed tomatoes and stock.
Bring to the boil and simmer for 10 minutes, then add the borlotti beans and cook for a further 5 minutes. Cool slightly, remove 2 cups of the soup and puree in a blender. Return to pan and stir with remaining soup.
Ladle into 4 bowls and sit 4 roasted tomatoes in each.
Tip: I’m too lazy to ladle two cups out and blend them, so I just use my blender stick thing and do a half-assed job of blending it in the pot, leaving a little texture. And today I used pancetta but I think bacon is pretty good too.
Enjoy. xx
That sounds absolutely divine! I’ll have to save it for our next chilly spell. It always throws me for a loop having the seasons the opposite here in the States than they are over there. We’re looking forward to it not being so cold when y’all are looking forward to it not being so hot! At least I’ve got the time zones more or less down now so I’m not calling people in the middle of the night anymore 🙂
Yum, I have some vine cherry tomatoes that I pick up off farmgate trail today – I could use some for the soup and some for the garnish – this looks like it could happen 😛
Soda bread toasted rubbed with garlic would be a perfect accompiament!mmmm
Tonight I’m having my chorizo and lentil soup leftovers(in my blog if you wanna see) if you’re still a soup-y mood and love your slow cooker 🙂 xx
Hi
I have just found your blog and twitter
Wanted to tell you that the receipe looks great
Also wanted to tell you I named my daughter Lacey as well
she is now 16 and a absoulte delight
Your Lacey looks beautiful enjoy her
Karen – I am going to have to get used that time zone thing. My sister moves to Arizona in a couple of weeks. Argh!
Liss – Oooh. That sounds tempting. I love my slow cooker.
KathieJ – Another Lacey? Beautiful. I’ve never met another one. Off to look at your blog now. xx
Elizabeth Saxe Coburg-Gotha is an evil woman, why do we slave away at work our whole lives for money with her face on