Spring minestrone

Serves:

Serves 4-6

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium brown onion, peeled and diced
• 200g pancetta, cut into 1cm-square cubes (or thereabouts)
• 2 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped
• 1 medium carrot, peeled and cubed
• 1 medium turnip, peeled and cubed
• 1 cup pumpkin, cubed
• 2 tbsp thyme leaves
• 1/2 savoy cabbage, very finely sliced
• One parmesan rind
• 3 cups (750ml) vegetable stock
• 1 1/2 cups small maccheroni pasta
• Extra parmesan cheese, grated, to serve

Method

Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and pancetta and cook, stirring often, for five minutes.

Add the garlic, carrot, turnip and thyme and cook for a further five minutes, stirring often. Now add the cabbage, parmesan rind, 2 cups of water and the stock and bring to the boil.

Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes. Add the maccheroni and cook for eight minutes or until al dente. Serve soup in bowls with crusty bread, extra parmesan and a drizzle of olive oil.

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Serving Suggestions

Note

• Use any vegetables you have handy; potatoes, sweet potatoes, leeks, Jerusalem artichokes are all good too!
• You could also swap the pasta with cooked and drained white beans or other pulses.
• This African-spiced cauliflower soup recipe is exotic and healthy.
• This Cauliflower and leek soup is also made with cauliflower but a lot milder.
• If you have an abundance of onions, this French onion soup recipe is traditionally French and delicious.
• Keeping it simple when you are hungry is a great idea and this Chicken noodle soup  is a great tmmy filler.
• This cheaty Tomato soup  is as easy as it gets and delicious with toast.
• Another unusual soup is Apple, pumpkin and cheddar soup.
• If chicken soup is your thing then try Chicken dumpling soup, Cream of chicken soup and Easy chicken soup all fit the bill.
• Good old-fashioned comfort food doesn't get better than this Barley and vegetable soup.
• This recipe was created by Sophie Hansen for Kidspot, New Zealand's best recipe finder: You can follow Sophie on Local is Lovely, Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest.