James Martin Vegetable Soup Recipes

PISTOU SOUP

Steps:

• Peel and finely chop the onion and garlic, then trim and slice the leek. Chop the potatoes, carrots, celery and courgettes, then pick and roughly chop the parsley leaves.
• Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat and sauté the onion, garlic and leek for 5 minutes.
• Add the other chopped ingredients, the bay, green beans and chopped tomatoes. Drain and add the beans. Cover with water, season and simmer until the vegetables are tender.
• Add the pasta and simmer until cooked, adding water if the soup is too thick.
• For the pistou sauce, peel and add the garlic to a pestle and mortar, pick in the basil leaves and add some sea salt. Pound until puréed, then finely grate in the Parmesan and muddle in the extra virgin olive oil to make a paste.
• Serve the soup with a dollop of pistou.

POACHED CHICKEN AND VEGETABLE SOUP

Steps:

• Place the chicken, carrots, celery, potatoes and thyme into a large, deep pan and pour in 3 litres of water or enough to cover the chicken.
• Simmer on a medium heat for 1½ hours or until the chicken is cooked through.
• Remove the chicken from the pan and strain the broth. Save the veg for later. Put the broth back on a high heat and allow to reduce for 15 minutes until there's about 2 litres left.
• Meanwhile, tear the cooked chicken into long chunks. Once the broth has reduced, throw the vegetables back in the pan with the peas, leeks and chicken. Simmer for a further 5 minutes, then remove the sprigs of thyme.
• Serve in warm bowls sprinkled with chopped parsley and the celery leaves.

CHUNKY ROOT VEGETABLE SOUP WITH CHEESY PESTO TOASTS

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large heavy-based saucepan. Add the shallots and cook for 5 mins until soft, then add the garlic and cook for 1 min more. Pour in the wine and simmer until reduced, then add the vegetables and cook for 2-3 mins.
• Pour in the stock, bring to the boil, reduce the heat and simmer for about 20 mins until the vegetables are soft. Meanwhile, to make the pesto, mix all the ingredients together with enough olive oil to make a thickish paste. Season.
• To make the toasts, put the grated cheese in a bowl and mix together with 2-3 tsp of the pesto. Heat grill. Put the ciabatta slices under the grill and toast on both sides. Remove, top with the herby cheese mixture, then grill until melted.
• Season the soup well and serve with the cheesy pesto toasts and remaining pesto, for drizzling.