Veggie Noodle Soup

Feeling a little under the weather? Need a simple, healthy and delicious pick-me-up? This basic soup may not look like much but is has that fantastic noodle soup quality; it makes you feel good inside. Full of vitamins, minerals and protein this is a simple, quick and easy soup; great for throwing together after work. If serving to little ones chop the veggies nice a small and use an alphabet or animal soup noodle; here I used small spirali pasta. I used Promite as the vegetable extract but you could use Vegemite, Marmite or any vegetarian vegetable extract spread and for the beans I used a tin of three bean mix, but use whatever cooked or tinned beans you like. Serve as is with crusty bread or topped with your favourite cheese. Enjoy!

Preparation time: 20mins
Serves 4

1 tbs olive oil1 brown onion, diced1 red chilli, diced (optional)3 large carrots, diced2 stalks of celery, dicedsmall bunch of fresh thyme, diced200g (7 oz) beans (butter, kidney or chickpeas)1 tbs vegetable extract (such as promite or marmite) 1 L (1 quart) vegetable stock500ml (1 pint) water150g (5oz) pasta

Heat the oil in a large saucepan; add the onion and cook for 3-4 minutes over medium heat until soft.

Add the diced chilli, carrot, celery and thyme; toss well and cook for a further 1-2 minutes; add the beans and toss well.

Add the vegetable extract, stock and water. Bring to a gently boil.

Add the pasta and continue to simmer over a medium heat for 10-15minutes until the pasta is al dente (tender).

Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve as is or topped with your favourite cheese and a side of warm crusty bread.

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