Tuscan Bean-Kale Soup

Serves: 4 | Prep time: 20 minutes | Cook time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 large tomatoes, quartered 
• 1/2 small butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut lengthwise into 2cm thick wedges 
• 280g kale, finely chopped 
• 3 large fresh thyme sprigs 
• 1 bay leaf
• Nonstick vegetable oil spray 
• 3 carrots, peeled and quartered 
• 1 large onion, cut into 8 wedges 
• 6 garlic cloves, unpeeled 
• 1 Tbsp. olive oil 
• 1.5L vegetable broth 
• 425g great northern beans, drained

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 200° C. Spray a rimmed baking sheet with oil spray. Arrange carrots, tomatoes, onion, squash and garlic on sheet. Drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss to coat. Bake until vegetables are brown and tender, stirring occasionally, about 45 minutes.
2. Transfer carrots and squash to work surface. Cut into 1/2-inch pieces and set aside. Peel garlic cloves and place in processor with tomatoes and onion, and purée until almost smooth. Pour 200ml broth onto baking sheet, and scrape up any browned bits. Transfer broth and vegetable purée to large pot. Add 1.3L broth, kale, thyme and bay leaf to pot, and bring to boil. Reduce heat, and simmer uncovered until the kale is tender (about 30 minutes).
3. Add beans, carrots and squash to soup. Simmer for 8 minutes to blend flavours. Season with salt and pepper. Discard thyme sprigs and bay leaf.
   

Recipe Credit: Nancy Kroupa