Minestrone Soup

This minestrone soup is lovely and filling and great for weight loss– you don’t even need to serve it with bread as the lentils and pasta bulk out the soup.

INGREDIENTS:
100g split red lentils
60g dried spaghetti
1 onion
1 courgette
2 garlic cloves
400g tin chopped tomatoes
1 carrot
1 red pepper
1 tbsp. tomato puree
2 tsp. mixed Italian herbs – basil, oregano, marjoram etc.
Salt and pepper
Oil spray
750ml vegetable or chicken stock made with stock cubes or fresh

DIRECTIONS:

1. Roughly chop the onion, carrot and garlic in the food processor.
2. Spritz a pan with oil spray then add the onion, carrot and garlic. Cook for 10-15 minutes until softened over a low heat. Meanwhile, dice the courgette. Slice the pepper in half and remove the seeds and the pith then chop into chunks.
3. Add the courgette and pepper to the pan and cook for a few minutes before adding the tomato puree. Cook for another minute or so then add the chopped tomatoes and veggie stock. Bring to a simmer and then add the lentils, herbs and salt and pepper.
4. Simmer for half an hour. Snap the spaghetti into small pieces and then stir into the saucepan.
5. Simmer for another half an hour then serve.

Recipe serves 4, calories per serving: 217. Add a sprinkle of cheese to each bowl of soup for extra flavour or try adding a tsp. of chilli flakes for a little kick.