Minestrone Soup (serves 4) – Ensure TwoCal Neutral

Ingredients:

• 1 pack of Ensure® TwoCal neutral (200ml)
• Butter (50g)
• 3 teaspoons of olive oil
• Streaky bacon, diced (200g)
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 medium carrot, finely chopped
• 2 sticks of celery, diced
• 1 leek, diced
• 1 tin of chopped tomatoes (400g)
• 1 heaped teaspoon of tomato puree
• 1 courgette, sliced
• 2 cloves of garlic, crushed
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 vegetable stock cube dissolved in 1 pint of boiling water
• Pasta (110g)
• 1 tin of haricot beans (400g)
• Salt and pepper to season

Method:

• Wash and drain the beans
• In a large frying pan, melt the butter and oil over a medium heat
• Add the bacon and onion, fry for 2-3 minutes until the onions have browned and the bacon is starting to crisp
• Add the carrots, celery and leeks and cook for 5 minutes over a high heat, stirring occasionally
• Add the tin of chopped tomatoes, tomato puree, courgette and garlic and bring to the boil
• Add the bay leaves and vegetable stock
• Reduce the heat and add Ensure® TwoCal and pasta, bring to a simmer (do not boil)
• Cover and cook for 40 minutes
• Add the haricot beans and cook for a further 5 minutes
• 10.&bowl

Serving suggestions:

• Add a dollop of sour cream
• Serve with grated parmesan cheese and crusty bread

Approximate nutrient content per serving (294g):