FROM OUR KITCHEN
Meatball, bean and pasta soup

Prep time15 min
Cook time20 min
Total time35 min
Servings4
01
Ingredients
- 500 g lean beef mince
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 red onion, finely chopped
- 1.2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsp basil leaves, finely chopped +extra, to serve
- 60 g feta cheese, crumbled +extra, to serve
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 700 g bottle Passata of choice
- 1.5 L (6 cups) salt-reduced beef stock
- 2.3 cup wholemeal penne pasta
- 175 g green beans, cut into 3cm lengths
- 1.2 small bunch kale, trimmed, finely shredded
02
Step-by-step method
- 01In a large bowl combine mince, garlic, onion, breadcrumbs, basil, feta and egg. Season and combine well. Roll heaped tablespoons of mince mixture into balls and place on a large plate (makes 24 balls).
- 02In a large saucepan add the passata, stock and 500ml (2 cups) water. Cover and bring to the boil over high heat. Add pasta and reduce heat to medium. Simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Add meatballs and cook for 5 minutes. Add beans and cook for a further 2 to 3 minutes or until pasta is al dente. Remove from heat and stir through kale.
- 03Ladle soup into bowls and sprinkle with extra basil and feta. Serve with rye toast, lemon wedges and baby rocket leaves.
03
Chef's tips
- Use silverbeet, baby spinach or English spinach instead of kale.
- Goats cheese or parmesan could be used instead of feta.
- The meatball mixture could be pan-fried, simmered in passata and served with pasta.
- Substitute canned lentils or chickpeas for pasta if desired.