Tuscan bean soup

 

It's soup season again and this is so delicious and easy, It's mainly store cupboard ingredients but as I have said before there is a fab shortcut for soups, stews and other dishes. Most supermarkets sell a frozen soup mix sometimes called soffrito but either way it's a mix of finely diced  carrot, celery and onion. I makes an amazing base for any soups or stews and it's usually only a £ or so.Don't worry if you don't like celery you honestly can barely taste it just makes a lovely herbal note to the dish. 

Tuscan bean soup

1 pack soffirto mix 

(or 2 sticks celery, 2 large carrots, 1 large onion finely diced)

2 cloves garlic (crushed) 

tbsp olive oil (or spray oil)

1 tin chopped tomatoes

1 tbsp tomato puree

1 can cannellini beans (drained)

1/2 savoy cabbage or cavalo nero (chopped)

2 pints vegetable stock (from a cube or stockpot is fine)

1 tsp dried oregano

salt and pepper

Place oil or spray oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat, Add soffrito mix ,oregano and garlic and fry for a few minutes. Add stock, tinned tomatoes and tomato puree and bring to the boil then simmer for ten minutes and then add drained beans and cabbage or cavalo nero, Cook for another ten minutes then taste to add salt an pepper as needed.