Leek & Tomato Mini Pasta Soup
🧂 Ingredients (Serves 2–3)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 leek, thinly sliced (not leak—we’re cooking, not fixing pipes 🛠️)
- 2 medium carrots, peeled, halved lengthways, then sliced into half-moons
- 300 ml passata or 1 tin (400 g) chopped tomatoes
- 1 litre water (preferably boiled in a kettle to speed things up)
- 4 tbsp dried margheritine pasta or any small soup pasta (e.g. orzo, stelline, ditalini)
- A small handful of peas, fresh or frozen (~40 g)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
🔄 Optional add-ins:
- A pinch of dried herbs (thyme, oregano, or basil work wonders)
- A grating of Parmesan or a drizzle of pesto to serve
- For protein: toss in a few cooked lentils or shredded rotisserie chicken
🔥 Method
Sauté the veg:
Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the sliced leek and carrots. Cook for 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the leeks are soft and the carrots start to tenderize.
Simmer with tomatoes:
Pour in the passata or chopped tomatoes, followed by 1 litre of hot water. Stir to combine and bring to a simmer. Let it bubble gently for 10 minutes to meld the flavors and soften the carrots.
Add the pasta:
Stir in the pasta and cook for 10 minutes, or until the pasta is al dente. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
Final flourish:
Toss in the peas and simmer for 2 more minutes. Turn off the heat, season generously with salt and black pepper, and give it a final stir.
Serve & enjoy:
Ladle into bowls and serve piping hot. Optionally top with grated cheese, a swirl of olive oil, or a cheeky crouton.
🧠Notes
- Leek alert: Be sure to rinse sliced leeks thoroughly. They like to hide grit like it’s treasure.
- Soup pasta magic: Margheritine is a charming choice, but don’t stress if you only have orzo, ditalini, or even broken-up spaghetti.
- Batch tip: This soup reheats well, but the pasta will keep absorbing liquid—just top up with a bit of water or stock before reheating.
#leek-and-tomato-soup #comfort-food #easy-soup-recipe #vegetarian-friendly #pasta-soup #one-pot-meal #simple-supper
