PUMPKIN AND BUTTER BEAN BROTH – THE IDEAL RECIPE FOR AUTUMN

Courtesy of Marco Pierre White, this chunky pumpkin and bean broth is a perfect autumn and winter warmer. Served with hot crusty bread is ideal for lunch or dinner on a cold rainy day.

Recipe serves: 8

Preparation Time: 20 min

Cooking Time: 50 min

INGREDIENTS

• 2 Knorr Vegetable Stock Pot
• 2 tbsps olive oil
• 2 small onions, peeled and finely chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped
• 6 small carrots, peeled and finely chopped
• 3 celery stalks, finely chopped
• 2 tbsps tomato puree (optional)
• 2 x 420g tins of butter beans in water, drained
• 500g pumpkin, peeled and chopped into chunks
• 2 courgettes or 6–8 baby courgettes, cut into chunks
• 1 tsp chopped fresh thyme
• Crusty bread, to serve

METHOD

1. First, make the stock. Dissolve the Knorr Vegetable Stock Pots in 1.2l of boiling water, stirring until thoroughly dissolved. Place the Knorr Vegetable Stock in a large saucepan and bring to a gentle simmer.
2. In a separate large heavy-based saucepan, heat the olive oil. Add in the onion and garlic and fry for 1–2 minutes over a high heat, stirring constantly so that they soften but don’t brown at all.
3. Add in the carrot and celery and cook for 2–3 minutes, stirring constantly. Add in the tomato puree – this will give the soup a great colour – and cook over a medium heat, stirring constantly to mix in well.
4. Bring the simmering Knorr Vegetable Stock to the boil and add to the onion mixture. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
5. Add in the drained butter beans and simmer for 10 minutes, then add in the pumpkin or butternut squash, bring to the boil and simmer for 10 minutes.
6. Add in courgettes and thyme, bring to the boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 5 more minutes. Adding fresh thyme gives a lovely flavour to the broth.
7. Check that the vegetables are cooked through; you want them tender, but retaining texture.
8. I’m a great fan of olive oil and I like to drizzle my soup with a little extra olive oil just before serving, but it’s your choice.
9. Take the soup to the table to serve. Some slices of crusty bread would go well with it.