Alphabet soup

Alphabet soup

Author: Yvonne Walus - Recipe writer

Photographer: Melanie Jenkins

Serves: 4 (children's portions)

Time to make: 30 mins

Hands-on time: 15 mins

Ingredients

More weights & measures

1 cup alphabet or small-sized pasta (see variations — we used Diamond Footy Shapes)
1 tablespoon good-quality oil (we used macadamia)
1 cup fresh or frozen diced carrot
1 cup fresh or frozen cauliflower florets
400g can diced tomatoes
1 teaspoon dried thyme
420g can cannellini beans, rinsed, drained

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Instructions

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1 Cook pasta according to packet instructions. Drain and set aside. Heat oil in a medium saucepan and stir-fry carrots and cauliflower until soft.

2 Add tomatoes and thyme and bring to the boil. Remove from heat and add cannellini beans.

3 Blend soup with a stick blender until smooth. Add 1—1 1/2 cups hot water to make a more soup-like consistency. Add pasta. Serve warm.

Variations

Make it gluten free: Use gluten-free pasta.
A dash of Light & Creamy Evaporated Milk will soften the tomato flavour (but it won’t be vegan).
Try using diced kumara or pumpkin instead of carrots.
Add a sliced mushroom to the veges for a different flavour.
For a dash of green, sprinkle a tablespoon of chopped fresh parsley on the finished soup.
Any small-sized pasta will do in this recipe, eg. orzo, small spirals or Diamond Dino (dinosaur) Shapes.

Nutrition Info (per serve)

Calories 175 cal

Kilojoules 730 kJ

Protein 8 g

Total fat 5 g

Saturated fat 1 g

Carbohydrates 20 g

Sugar 6 g

Dietary fibre 7 g

Sodium 210 mg

Calcium 80 mg

Iron 3 mg

Note: This nutrition analysis is a guide only. Nutrition composition will vary depending on the exact ingredients used. See our guides on your optimal daily nutrition intake, and supermarket shopping.