“One of the rather pathetic realities of the fact that so many of the restaurants in France are disappointing these days is the almost tearful joy in finding one that’s everything you would have hoped for, often from your childhood or teenage memories,” says chef Rick Stein.
“Such a place is Le Bistro du Paradou near Arles. I’ve mentioned the restaurant and this soup in the introduction to the book, and like all great dishes it takes me back to the evening I ate it. I remember the large green tureen it was served in and the wonderful scent of basil, olive oil and garlic. I also recall the animated chat round the table with my friend John Illsley, his wife Steph and my wife Sas about the French and about the realities of his band Dire Straits writing ‘Sultans of Swing’ in a council flat in Deptford.”
Vegetable soup with basil, garlic and olive oil
Equipment
- Pan
Ingredients
- 100 g dried beans flageolet, cannellini or haricots, soaked overnight in cold water
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- 1 clove garlic finely chopped
- 1 onion chopped
- 1 leek halved lengthways and finely sliced
- 2 carrots chopped
- 1 bouquet garni bay leaf, thyme sprigs and parsley stalks
- 675 g courgettes cut into small dice
- 450 g tomatoes skinned, seeded and chopped
- 2 potatoes medium, cut into small dice
- 100 g fine beans topped, tailed and cust into 3-4 pieces
- 100 g peas frozen
- 75 g orzo or spaghetti broken into small lengths
- 1 pinch salt and black pepper to taste
To serve
- 1 portion parmesan cheese grated
- 1 portion olive oil extra virgin
- 1 green pistou
Method
- Drain the soaked beans. Heat two tablespoons of the oil in a pan, add the garlic and cook gently for two to three minutes. Add the beans and 1.25 litres of water, bring to the boil, cover and simmer for 30–60 minutes, or until just tender. Add half a teaspoon of salt and simmer for another five minutes, then set aside.
- Heat the remaining oil in a large pan. Add the onion, leek and carrots and cook gently for five to six minutes until softened but not browned. Add the beans, their cooking liquor and the bouquet garni to the pan of softened vegetables. Add the courgettes, tomatoes and potatoes and another 1.25 litres of water, then season with two teaspoons of salt and some pepper. Bring to the boil and simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes.
- Add the green beans, peas and pasta to the pan and simmer for another 10 minutes or until the pasta is cooked.
- Remove the pan from the heat, take out the bouquet garni and stir in the pistou. Check the seasoning and serve in warmed bowls, with some extra grated Parmesan cheese and a little jug of extra virgin olive oil to drizzle on top.
Nutrition
Rick Stein’s Secret France by Rick Stein, photography by James Murphy, is published by BBC Books. Available from Amazon.
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