Pasta & Minestrone Soup

Ingredients

• 1 cup dried black beans
• 1 cup dried red kidney beans

• 1 small onion, diced

• 4 cloves garlic, mined
• 1 can whole peeled tomatoes
• 1 litre vegetable stock

• 4 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 whole fennel, diced
• 2 leeks
• 1 capsicum, diced

 

• 1 tablespoon oregano
• 1 tablespoon parsley
• 1 tablespoon basil

• 2 teaspoons chili flakes
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 teaspoons dried onion powder (optional)
• 2 teaspoons dried garlic powder (optional)
• 1 cup risoni pasta

 

Instructions

• Soak beans in some water overnight or pressure cook them with 4 cups of water for 40 minutes

• Slice the leek length-wise and soak in boiling hot water for 5 minutes

• Heat pan and fry onions, garlic, basil, oregano, parsley and chilli until onion is translucent
• In slow cooker, add stock, onion and garlic powder, leek, diced fennel, capsicum, crushed tomatoes, fried onions, garlic, herbs, chilli and tomato paste
• Add the pressure cooked beans, along with the water its cooked in as well

• Cook on low for 6 hours
• Boil risoni pasta till al-dente and then drain and toss in olive oil
• Once slow cooker is done, stir in pasta and serve with a little shredded cheese

Pasta in Spinach Sauce

 

Ingredients

• 1 cup pasta, penne or elbow type
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• Half small onion, finely diced
• 1 cup chopped or frozen spinach
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 chicken breast
• 2 pieces sundried tomato, finely diced
• Shredded cheese for serving

 

 

Instructions

• Cook pasta in water with a pinch of salt until al-dente. Drain, mix with olive oil and set aside.

• Wash chicken breast, season with olive oil and salt and wrap in foil. Bake at 220 degrees Celsius for 42 minutes. Then dice and set aside.

 

• Blend spinach with half a cup of water, salt and olive oil.

• Heat oil in pan and fry onions until translucent.
• Add chicken breasts, minced garlic and sundried tomatoes and cook for another 2 minutes.

• Add spinach sauce and cook until the liquid evaporates.

 

• Lower heat and stir in the pasta.

 

• Serve with a generous amount of shredded cheese.