Winter cannellini bean soup

30-60 minutes 400 kcal or less 6 servings bean cannelini celery leek mains over an hour soup

N/A

Source

Ingredients

1 tbsp olive oil

4 shallots , finely chopped

2 garlic cloves , finely chopped

1 carrot , finely chopped

2 celery sticks, finely chopped

2 leeks , finely chopped

140g streaky bacon , finely chopped

1.4l chicken stock or vegetable stock (Kallo is good)

2 bay leaves

2 tsp chopped fresh oregano or marjoram or ½ tsp dried

2x 450g cans cannellini beans , drained and rinsed

a handful of flatleaf parsley , chopped

extra-virgin olive oil

6 tiny parsley sprigs

Method

Heat the oil in a large saucepan and tip in the shallots, garlic, carrot, celery, leeks and bacon. Cook over a medium heat for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened but not browned.

Pour in the stock, then add the bay leaves and oregano or marjoram. Season and bring to the boil, then cover the pan and simmer gently for 15 minutes. Tip in the beans, cover again and simmer for a further 5 minutes.

Pour the soup into a freezer container and leave it to cool completely, then seal, label and freeze for up to a month.

Defrost the soup at room temperature for 3 hours, (or overnight).

Tip into a saucepan, reheat gently until bubbling, and simmer for 5 minutes. Taste for seasoning. Swirl in the chopped parsley, ladle into warm bowls and top each with a drizzle of olive oil and a parsley sprig.