Chickpea & Sun-dried Tomato Minestrone

Chickpea & Sun-dried Tomato Minestrone

The weather is changing. Even here in our Mallorcan kitchen we can feel it and so it’s time to introduce some comfort food into the mix.  Nothing says ‘last desperate attempt to cling onto the summer’ than a luscious bowl of minestrone.

With its stunning seasonal vegetables bought from the Sunday market, it is a celebration of the hard work that the summer has done for us.

Fresh herbs, garlic and then chickpeas for texture and protein are mixed with sun-dried tomatoes for that final blast of summer.

A hefty pile of parmesan and served with nothing more complicated than toasted bread drizzled with olive oil, this is quite literally the mediterranean in a bowl.

Recipe:

• Olive oil
• one medium onion – chopped
• 2 sticks celery – chopped
• 1 medium carrot – chopped
• Fresh rosemary & thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 2 cloves garlic – chopped
• 1/2 courgette – chopped
• 1/2 aubergine – chopped
• 1 large tomato – chopped
• 450g chickpeas (with liquid)
• 5 pieces of sun-dried tomatoes – chopped
• 1ltr vegetable stock
• a large handful spinach leaves
• 150g Parmesan cheese – finely grated
• Fresh basil to serve

Method

Place a large pan onto a warm heat and add some olive oil, add the chopped onions, celery and carrots and stir. Allow the vegetables to saute in the pan for about 6 minutes then stir in the garlic, fresh herbs and oregano.

Allow this all to saute again for another 6 minutes and then stir in the aubergine and courgette. Stir in the fresh and sun-dried tomatoes, then add the chickpeas along with the liquid from the chickpea can.

Stir in the stock and turn the heat down to its lowest and allow it to gently simmer for 30 minutes. Then stir in the spinach and Parmesan.

It’s now ready to serve with some freshly torn basil but I always think it tastes better if you allow it to cool and reheat it later.

for more soup recipes, check these out on Dom In The Kitchencheck these out on Dom In The Kitchen  

Eat and of course, enjoy!

What’s your favourite soup?