Pasta Soup

I've struggled for an idea of what to call this but it's a mix up of minestrone with filled pasta.  There is a great selection of filled pastas available commercially nowadays but it's not always cheap.  This is a fantastic way to use it.

Pasta soup - Serves 1 generously

Ingredients

1/2 Onion, finely chopped

1 tsp Olive oil

1/2 Carrot, finely chopped

60g, 2oz Courgette / zucchini, finely chopped

1 Clove garlic

1 sprig Parsley

1 Low salt stock cube

350ml, 12 fl oz Boiling water

half a tin (approx 120g, 4oz) borlotti beans

40g, 1.5oz Cured ham like parma ham or similar

80g, just short of 3oz Fresh filled pasta, e.g. tortellini, agnolotti, ravioli etc.*

60g, 2oz Fresh tomatoes

2 sprigs Basil

Method

Fry the onion in oil until softened.  Add in the carrot then fry for a couple more minutes.  Add the chopped courgette and fry for a couple more minutes.  Ad in the garlic, fry for a minute more then add the chopped parsley, water and stock cube.

Add in the borlotti beans and simmer for 3 minutes or until the vegetables are softening.  Add the ham, simmer for a minute then add the pasta cooking following pack instructions.  If needed, add a little more water so the pasta can cook (I added 100ml more).

When the pasta is cooked, add in the chopped tomatoes and shredded basil and serve.  Absolutely stunning and a great way to make filled pasta go much further.

* The remaining pasta will store for a short time in a fridge or you could always freeze the remainder.

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