Italian Borlotti Bean, Pumpkin and Barley Soup

by BBC Good Food

Warm up on chilly evenings with this hearty, healthy bean & pumpkin soup. Serve this low-calorie meal with a chunk of fresh bread for dunking

Method

Based on 6 servings, adjust as needed.

Step 1

Heat the oil in a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Add the onion, celery, squash or pumpkin and carrot and cook until the vegetables have some colour. Add a splash of water and some seasoning, then cover the pan and let the vegetables cook over a very low heat for 5 mins.

Step 2

Add the garlic and cook for another couple of mins, then add the tomato purée, stock, pearl barley and some seasoning. If you have a parmesan rind in your fridge that's nearly finished, pop this into the soup as it will add a realy depth of flavour. Simmer for about 15 mins (or until the grains are cooked), adding the beans for the final 5 mins. In the last few mins, add the spinach, then taste for seasoning.

Step 3

If you want to use sage, fry the leaves whole in a little olive oil before adding to the soup. If you prefer to use parsley, you can just add it directly to the soup. Serve with shavings of vegetarian hard cheese and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil on top of each bowlful. Remove the parmesan rinds and serve.

  • Ingredients
  • Based on 6 servings
  • 75g Pearl Barley, or any mixed grains such as farro or spelt 1x Sainsbury's Pearl Barley 500g
  • 1 Tin Borlotti Beans, drained 1x Sainsbury's Borlotti Beans In Water 400g (235g*)
  • 100g Baby Spinach 1x Sainsbury’s Spinach, SO Organic 100g
  • 1 Celery Stick, cut into chunks 1x Sainsbury's Celery
  • 750g Butternut Squash, or pumpkin, peeled, deseeded and cut into small chunks 1x Sainsbury's Butternut Squash Loose
  • 1.2 litres Vegetable Stock, or chicken stock 1x Knorr Stock Pot Vegetable 4x28g
  • 50g Vegetarian Hard Cheese, shaved, plus the rind (optional) 1x Stamford Street Co. Italian Hard Cheese 200g
  • 15g Parsley, chopped, or a handful of sage leaves 1x Sainsbury's Fresh Packed Flat Leaf Parsley 30g
  • 4 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil, plus extra to serve 1x Sainsbury's Olive Oil, Extra Virgin 1L
  • 1 Onion, peeled and finely chopped 1x Sainsbury's Onions Loose
  • 1 Carrot, peeled and cut into chunks 1x Sainsbury’s Carrots Loose
  • 3 Garlic Cloves, chopped 1x Sainsbury's Garlic
  • 3 tbsp Tomato Purée 1x Sainsbury's Tomato Puree, Double Concentrate 200g
  • Maldon Salt, to taste, 1x Maldon Sea Salt Flakes 250g
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