Stelline, Borlotti Bean and Rocket Soup

, from Issue #23.
Photography by Nick Tresidder.
Stelline, Borlotti Bean and Rocket Soup

This simple soup relies on using a good quality chicken stock. Stelline are tiny star-shaped pasta.

INGREDIENTS

3 tablespoons olive oil
1 leek, thinly sliced
1 small fennel bulb, thinly sliced
4 rashers streaky bacon, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 teaspoons finely chopped rosemary
6 cups good quality chicken stock
1⁄2 cup stelline or other very small pasta
1 x 400 gram tin cooked borlotti beans, drained and rinsed
2 handfuls rocket leaves
sea salt and freshly ground pepper
1⁄2 cup fresh basil
shaved Parmesan to serve

METHOD

Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan and cook the leek, fennel, bacon, garlic and rosemary for 5 minutes. Add the chicken stock, season well and bring to the boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente. Add the borlotti beans and rocket, season well and simmer for two minutes.

To serve: Ladle into warm bowls and top with a drizzle of olive oil, a few ripped basil leaves and shaved Parmesan. Serves 4