Spring vegetable soup with basil pesto

A former magazine cover star, this satisfying soup is special enough for entertaining and easy enough to size down

Ingredients

Instructions

1. Heat the oil, then fry the leeks until softened. Add the green beans and courgette, then pour in the stock and season to taste. Cover and simmer for
   5 mins.
2. Meanwhile, make the pesto: put the basil, garlic, nuts, Parmesan, oil and ½ tsp salt in a food processor, then blitz until smooth.
3. Stir the tomatoes, cannellini beans and vermicelli into the soup pan, then simmer for
   5 mins more until the veg are just tender. The soup and pesto can now be chilled for up to a day.
4. Reheat the soup, if necessary, then stir in half the pesto. Ladle into bowls and serve with the rest of the pesto spooned on top. Eat with chunks of crusty bread.

Nutrition