Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon of virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
- 1 finely chopped onion
- 1 touch of paprika, as it gives a smoky flavour without the heat of cayenne.
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 litre vegetable stock (boiling water and a stock cube)
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 2 cups of baby spinach, chopped
- 1 can of cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
- The juice of 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
- Pinch of sea salt and freshly milled black pepper
And then…
- Start by heating your oil gently in a large pot. Then, you can throw in some garlic and onion, and stir for a few minutes on a low heat.
- Add a touch of paprika as it gives a smoky flavour, without the heat of cayenne pepper. Follow by adding the bay leaves.
- Make a litre of stock by adding the boiling water to the stock cube. Stir this into the mixture, and bring this to the boil.
- Add the orzo to the pot. Leave this on a low heat for about 15 minutes.
- Put in the spinach and cannellini beans and stir until the spinach has wilted, which is about a couple of minutes.
- Stir in lemon juice. The acidity helps give it that little edge. Pop in the chopped parsley.
- Add salt and pepper to taste. I suggest Maldon salt flakes as they add a fresh intensity to the soup. Serve immediately!
Our Thoughts!
- Soups should be healthy, comforting and satisfying. This recipe is easy and cheap, and is a chance to create your own little bit of mystery. You don’t have to make a great stock from scratch – there’s no simmering bones here. What I would suggest is to buy vegetable stock pots from your supermarket – they are a good substitute.
- What is great about making soup is that it is always waiting for you. Make it in a large pot and fill your home with wonderful, homely smells. You have the comfort of knowing that it is ready and waiting for you and it is great for when your mates drop in.
- Top tip: Soups benefit greatly from a rest in the refrigerator. Even better, is that they accumulate more and more flavour in the fridge overnight.
Image credit to: https://damndelicious.net/2015/01/26/spinach-white-bean-soup/
