Warm up with hearty veggie and bean soup
While looking for a warm and inviting winter meal, I thought a hot bowl of soup would be perfect. I love the welcoming smell of homemade soup. The best part is this soup is made in one pot and takes about 20 minutes from assembling the ingredients to cooking it. It’s a vegetarian meal that won’t break your calorie bank.
Helpful hints
■ Buy shredded cabbage in a bag from the produce section of the market.
■ You can use any short cut pasta.
■ You can use any beans such as cannellini or red beans.
■ Parmesan cheese can be used instead of Pecorino Romano cheese.
■ Assemble the ingredients.
■ Make the soup.
Shopping list
To buy: 2 containers reduced-sodium vegetable broth, large can no-saltadded canned diced tomatoes (24 ounces needed), 1 can reduced sodium northern white beans, 1 bunch celery, 1 bag shredded cabbage, 1 bag washed, ready-to-eat spinach, 1 box corkscrew pasta, 1 bottle prepared horseradish, 1 bottle balsamic vinegar, 1 small piece Pecorino Romano cheese and 1 loaf whole grain bread.
Staples: olive oil, onion, salt and black peppercorns.
HEARTY VEGETABLE AND BEAN SOUP
Recipe by Linda Gassenheimer 3 cups reduced-sodium vegetable broth 3 cups no-salt-added canned diced tomatoes (including their juice) 1 cup sliced onion 1 cup sliced celery 1 cup shredded cabbage 1 cup corkscrew pasta 1 tablespoon prepared horseradish 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar 2 cups washed, ready-toeat spinach 1 cup reduced-sodium northern white beans Salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 tablespoon olive oil ½ cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese Two slices whole grain bread
Bring vegetable broth and tomatoes to a boil in a large saucepan over medium high heat. Add the onion and celery. Cover with a lid, lower heat to medium and cook 5 minutes. Add cabbage and pasta and raise the heat to high. Boil uncovered for 8 minutes.
Mix horseradish and vinegar together. Add to the soup with the spinach and beans. Boil 2 minutes. Pasta should be cooked. Add salt and pepper to taste. Divide between 2 large soup bowls. Drizzle with the olive oil and sprinkle cheese on top. Serve with the whole grain bread.
Yield 2 servings.
Per serving: 612 calories (16% from fat), 11 g fat
(6.6 g saturated, 5.1 g monounsaturated), 21 mg cholesterol, 30.1 g protein, 94.2 g carbohydrates, 19.8 g fiber, 940 mg sodium.