Green minestrone with spinach dumplings

On cold days, nothing feels as soul-warming as a bowl of soup, especially a hearty one like minestrone. With its wholesome blend of vegetables, beans and pasta, minestrone remains a timeless classic and a perennial favourite. For this minestrone recipe, a generous mix of green vegetables gets an unexpected twist with the addition of spinach dumplings, perfectly complementing the flavourful broth. Simply add a side of warm bread for a meal that’s both comforting and nourishing.

Ingredients

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 leek, trimmed and sliced

2 stalks celery, thinly sliced

4 cloves garlic, crushed

6 cups (1.5L) vegetable stock

2 zucchini, thinly sliced into rounds

1 bunch broccolini, cut into small florets

150g green beans, trimmed and chopped

Finely grated parmesan, to serve

Red vein sorrel leaves, to serve

Dumplings

1 tsp finely grated lemon zest

¼ cup flat-leaf parsley

1 cup baby spinach leaves

½ cup (125ml) buttermilk

⅔ cup (100g) plain flour

1 tsp table salt

1 egg, beaten

Method

1.

Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add leek and celery and cook for 5 minutes, or until fragrant. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds.

2.

Add stock and bring to the boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook for 30 minutes. Add zucchini, broccoli, green beans and cook, uncovered, for 10 minutes.

3.

Meanwhile, for the dumplings, combine lemon zest, parsley, spinach and buttermilk in a blender and blend until smooth. Add flour, salt and egg, and whisk to combine.

4.

Bring a large saucepan of salted water to the boil. In batches, push spoonfuls of the dumpling batter through the holes of a colander into the boiling water to make small dumplings.

5.

Cook for 1 minute or until the dumplings rise to the surface. Remove with a slotted spoon and add to the soup. Repeat with remaining batter.

6.

Divide between bowls and serve with finely grated parmesan and red vein sorrel.

(Photography: Con Poulos / Styling: Steve Pearce )

This article originally appeared on Home Beautiful and is republished here with permission.