Bean and Pasta Soup

This is a simple soup which I made with white navy beans and shells pasta.Pasta soups are warm and comforting and a whole meal in themselves.After Minestrone and Borscht,this is another one that I have come to enjoy.This is supposed to be from the Tuscan region of Italy and though similar to Minestrone,it uses spinach and fresh thyme that are said to be grown there in abundance.(Recipe Source : Allrecipes.com but twisted by me. :D)

Ingredients:

Onion: 1 medium
Garlic: 2 cloves
Spinach: 1 -2 cup
Navy Beans: 1/2 cup dry
RedBell Pepper: 1
Tomatoes: 2 medium
Shells pasta :1/2 cup
Water/Veg/Chicken Stock: 1 cup+

Spices:
Dried thyme
Pepper
Red Chilli flakes

Salt

Olive Oil

Preparation:

Soak the beans in water overnight.Cook the beans in a pressure cooker adding salt.You can also use canned beans.Chop the bell pepper into small pieces.Finely chop onions and crush/mince the garlic.Roughly chop the spinach or use baby leaves as such.Chop the tomato or can even use tomato paste(1-2 tbsp).You can use water/stock/cubes for making this.I made the stock/broth referencing here though in the pressurecooker and avoiding salt and sauces.

Heat olive oil in a pan,add onion and garlic and saute for few minutes till raw smell disappears.Add bell pepper cubes and saute for few more minutes.Then add tomato,cooked beans and broth.Also add the spices and salt and let it simmer for 10-15 minutes till the flavours are blended and the soup thickens.Add spinach and pasta.Add more stock/water if needed to cook the pasta.Cook till done.Serve hot.

Though the recipe is simple,it is hearty and filling. This bean and pasta soup is my entry to No Croutons Required,hosted this time by Holler and the theme is Vegetarian Soup or Salad with Pasta.


A warm bowl also travels to Simona,where she is having the fifth helping of MyLegume Affair,an event started by Susan.

Filled with soup on RecipeMarathon Day#14,lets check out whether other runners need their dose of protein:
1) DK 2) Siri 3) Srivalli 4) Ranji 5)PJ 6)Medha 7)Priya 8)Bhawna 9)Raaji 10)Ruchii 11)Anu 12)Kamala 13)Roopa 14)Divya Kudua 15)Rekha 16)Divya M 17)Lakshmi 18)Raaga 19)LakshmiVenkatesh 20) Sripriya 21)Viji 22)Kamalika 23)Pavani 24)Karuna 25)Roochi