Name: Greek butterbean and tomato soup recipe
Yield: Based on a Greek bean dish called Gigantes Plaki, this soup is really hearty and filling but still manages to taste a bit summery thanks to its Mediterranean ingredients – always welcome on a wintery walk. If you're eating it at home, serve it with warm sourdough bread for a really indulgent lunch. The feta and olive ‘sprinkles’ are optional but they are really easy to knock up, and lift the whole thing to another level.
Ingredients: 2tbsp Olive oil; 2 Onions, finely chopped; 3 Celery, finely chopped; 3 Garlic cloves, crushed; 2 Bay leaves; 1tsp Dried oregano; ½tsp Ground cinnamon; 2 x 400g tins of butterbeans, rinsed and drained; 2 x 400g tins of chopped tomatoes; 2tbsp Tomato puree; 500ml Vegetable stock; Salt and freshly ground black pepper; 200g Feta cheese, crumbled; A handful of pitted kalamata olives, chopped; Zest of 1 lemon; 1 Garlic clove, finely chopped; A small bunch of fresh oregano, leaves picked and chopped

Ingredients

2tbsp Olive oil
2 Onions, finely chopped
3 Celery, finely chopped
3 Garlic cloves, crushed
2 Bay leaves
1tsp Dried oregano
½tsp Ground cinnamon
2 x 400g tins of butterbeans, rinsed and drained
2 x 400g tins of chopped tomatoes
2tbsp Tomato puree
500ml Vegetable stock
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the garnish

200g Feta cheese, crumbled
A handful of pitted kalamata olives, chopped
Zest of 1 lemon
1 Garlic clove, finely chopped
A small bunch of fresh oregano, leaves picked and chopped

Method

STEP 1
Add the oil, onion and celery to a large heavy-based pan and set over a medium low heat, softening gently for about
20 minutes. Add the garlic, bay leaves, oregano and cinnamon, stirring well to mix and cook for a further five minutes.
Feta and olive garnish (Photo by: Jason Ingram)
STEP 2
Stir through the butterbeans, tomatoes and tomato puree and pour in the vegetable stock. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper and bring to the boil. Simmer steadily, uncovered, for about 20 minutes until the tomatoes have cooked down and the soup has reduced to a good, thick consistency.
STEP 3
Pour into food flasks while piping hot, or chill ready for reheating on your walk. Make the garnish by stirring together the feta, olives, lemon zest, garlic and oregano and pack into a small tub ready to sprinkle over as you are eating.