Recipes: Hearty pasta soup

Do something different with a pack of tortellini. This filling soup is full of fibre, low fat and full of veg. The perfect lunch or supper

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 carrots , chopped
• 1 large onion , finely chopped
• 1l vegetable stock
• 400g can chopped tomatoes
• 200g frozen mixed peas and beans
• 250g pack fresh filled tortellini (we used spinach and ricotta)
• handful of basil leaves (optional)
• grated parmesan , to serve

  

  1. Heat oil in a pan. Fry the carrots and onion for 5 mins until starting to soften. Add the stock and tomatoes, then simmer for 10 mins. Add the peas and beans with 5 mins to go.
  2. Once veg is tender, stir in the pasta. Return to the boil and simmer for 2 mins until the pasta is just cooked. Stir in the basil, if using. Season, then serve in bowls topped with a sprinkling of Parmesan and slices of garlic bread.

  Make it a bake
  Ricotta & basil bake: Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/ gas 6. Tip the pasta into a baking dish, season the tomatoes, stir in the basil, then spoon on top. In a bowl, combine the peas and beans, 250g tub ricotta and a handful grated Parmesan. Dot the mix over the pasta, scatter with more Parmesan, then bake for 20-25 mins until golden.
  

  No basil - pesto will do
  Can't get hold of fresh basil? If you've got a tub of pesto in the fridge, stir a spoonful into the soup just before you serve it.
  

  NUTRITION PER SERVING:

  286 kcalories, protein 11g, carbohydrate 44g, fat 9 g, saturated fat 3g, fibre 6g, sugar 11g, salt 0.88 g 

  source: bbcgoodfood.com