Minestrone with macaroni cheese

Name: Minestrone with macaroni cheese
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: Serves 4
Cuisine: Italian recipes
Ingredients: 2 tbsp olive oil; 2 celery sticks, halved lengthways and thinly sliced; 1 leek, washed and thinly sliced; 2 garlic cloves, crushed; 1 large carrot, finely chopped; 2 desirée potatoes, chopped; 2 tsp tomato purée; 2 bay leaves; 4 fresh thyme sprigs; 1.5 litres vegetable stock, hot; 400g can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed; 2 small courgettes, finely; chopped; 100g frozen peas; 100g baby spinach leaves; Chopped fresh flatleaf parsley,; to garnish; For the macaroni cheese; 150g dried macaroni or other small pasta shapes; 100ml single cream; 2 tbsp each grated Cheddar; and vegetarian parmesan; Butter, for greasing; 1 tbsp dry breadcrumbs

Portion size: Serves 4
Ready in 30 minutes
Difficulty: easy

Vegetarian

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There are plenty of vegetables in this minestrone soup recipe which means you’re allowed a slightly decadent side dish of macaroni cheese.

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Ingredients

2 tbsp olive oil
2 celery sticks, halved lengthways and thinly sliced
1 leek, washed and thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 large carrot, finely chopped
2 desirée potatoes, chopped
2 tsp tomato purée
2 bay leaves
4 fresh thyme sprigs
1.5 litres vegetable stock, hot
400g can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
2 small courgettes, finely
chopped
100g frozen peas
100g baby spinach leaves
Chopped fresh flatleaf parsley,
to garnish

For the macaroni cheese

150g dried macaroni or other small pasta shapes
100ml single cream
2 tbsp each grated Cheddar
and vegetarian parmesan
Butter, for greasing
1 tbsp dry breadcrumbs

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Method

Heat the oil in a large pan over a medium-low heat. Cook the celery, leek, garlic and carrot, stirring, for 5 minutes. Add the potatoes, tomato purée, bay leaves, thyme and stock and bring to the boil. Reduce to a simmer over a medium-low heat, partially covered, for 10 minutes.
Add the beans, courgettes and peas, simmer for 6-8 minutes, then stir in the spinach and season.
Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to the packet instructions. Drain, return to the pan and stir in the cream, Cheddar, most of the Parmesan and season to taste.
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Heat the grill to medium-high. Tip the pasta into 4 warm, lightly buttered 200ml ramekins, then scatter with breadcrumbs and the remaining cheese. Grill for 1-2 minutes.
Divide the soup between warmed bowls, season and scatter with parsley and serve with the macaroni cheese.