Country Vegetable Soup Recipe

Ingredients

• 50g/2 oz butter

• 1 onion, chopped

• 2 leeks, sliced

• 2 celery sticks, sliced

• 2 carrots, sliced

• 2 small turnips, chopped

• 4 ripe tomatoes, skinned and chopped

• 1litre/1 1/4 pints chicken or vegetable stock

• bouquet garni

• 115g/1 oz green beans, chopped

• salt and ground black pepper

• chopped fresh herbs such as tarragon, thyme, chives and parsley, to garnish

Serves 4

Method:

1. Heat the butter in a large saucepan and cook the onion and leeks gently until soft but not colored.

2. Add the celery, carrots and turnips and cook them for about 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally.

3. Stir in the tomatoes and stock, add the bouquet garni and simmer the vegetables gently for about 20 minutes.

4. Add the beans to the soup and continue to cook until all the vegetables are tender.

5. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve garnished with chopped herbs.