Cannellini and Spelt Minestrone
Serves 4-6
Ingredients
Extra virgin olive oil, enough to cover the bottom of the pan plus a good slosh for the pasta
1 onion, finely chopped
2 or 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped or crushed
2 sticks celery, finely chopped
Small bunch parsley, finely chopped, keep stalks aside to cook with onion
1 bay leaf, fresh or dried
1 tablespoon dried mixed herbs
2 carrots, diced
1 small courgette, diced
1 sweet potato, diced
100g red split lentils, rinsed
150g mini spelt pasta shapes, we use Northern Pasta Co. but any pasta will do
1 x 400g tin chopped tomatoes
500g passata
1 heaped tablespoon tomato puree
1 x 400g tin cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1 x 326g tin sweetcorn
Pinch of sea salt
Few grinds of black pepper
Method
Leave the lid on at each stage when you are cooking this dish, the steam helps the vegetables cook nicely and more efficiently.
Put the olive oil in a heavy-bottomed pan on a gentle heat and add the onions, garlic, celery and parsley stalks followed by the bay leaf, herbs, salt and pepper. Stir and let cook until soft but not browned. This takes about 10-15 minutes. If the onions start to stick, turn down the heat and add a splash of water.
Put the carrots, courgette, sweet potato and lentils into the pan and mix everything together. Add cold water to cover the vegetables. Bring to a simmer and cook until the vegetables and lentils are soft, this will take about 20-30 minutes. Add more water if needed. Stir occasionally.
While the vegetables are simmering bring a pan of salted water to the boil and add the pasta. Cook according to the packet instructions then drain. Gently stir in a good slosh of olive oil and set aside.
Add the tinned tomatoes, passata and tomato puree into the vegetable pan and stir. Simmer with the lid off for five minutes, stirring regularly.
Add the cannellini beans, sweetcorn and pasta and simmer for another five minutes until the sauce feels satisfyingly rich.
Finally take off the heat, remove the bay leaf and stir in the parsley. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.