Minestrone Soup with Ham

This is one of those easy pull together soups that's perfect for autumn days. Tasty, simple packed with flavour from the vegetables and ham. Orzo pasta is perfect for this dish as its small and gives the dish some 'bite' without being bigger than the chopped vegetables.

Ingredients:

1 tbsp. olive oil
1 tbsp. butter
1 carrot, finely chopped
1 leek, sliced
1 onion, finely chopped
1 courgette, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 glass white wine
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. dried basil
1 bay leaf
400g tin chopped tomatoes
800ml vegetable stock
1/3 cup (65g) orzo pasta
6 slices ham, chopped
black pepper
salt

Method:

Heat the oil and butter in a large saucepan and add the carrot, onion, leek, courgette and garlic. Cook on a low/medium heat for 8 minutes when beginning to soften. Add the white wine and turn up the heat. Cook off the alcohol until almost completely evaporated. Add the herbs, tomatoes, pasta and stock, cover and leave to cook, half covered, for 20 minutes. Finally add the ham and season to taste.

Serve with bread and butter and enjoy!