Warm up with a bowl of minestrone soup this fall

As autumn brings a chill to the air, a warm, nutrient-rich bowl of soup is just what the season calls for. Realfood's recommended recipe for fall is minestrone soup — a hearty Italian classic that fits the mood perfectly.

Minestrone soup is built on a base of tomato, a superfood packed with various anticancer compounds. Fresh vegetables such as carrots, celery, onions and napa cabbage add a wealth of micronutrients to every bowl.

Bacon sautéed in olive oil gives the soup its depth of flavor, while tomato purée and chicken stock create a rich, full-bodied broth. Bay leaves lend fragrance, and the dish is finished with chopped parsley, Parmesan cheese, and a dash of black pepper or a drizzle of olive oil. Canned beans and short pasta add a satisfying bite to the otherwise silky soup.

This fall, replenish your micronutrients with a generous bowl of this Italian tomato soup loaded with fresh vegetables.

1 carrot, 2 stalks of celery, 1/2 onion, 3 cloves of garlic, 4 strips of bacon, 2–3 napa cabbage leaves, 1 can (200g) of canned beans, 300ml tomato purée, 300ml water, 100g short pasta, 1 chicken stock cube, 3 bay leaves, chopped parsley, Parmesan cheese, black pepper, olive oil

1. Wash the carrot, celery and onion thoroughly and cut into cubes. Thinly slice the napa cabbage leaves.

2. Cut the bacon into 1-centimeter-thick pieces.

3. Heat a pan, add olive oil and cook the bacon.

4. Once the bacon is golden brown, add the garlic and carrot and stir-fry, then add the onion, celery and bay leaves and continue to cook.

5. When the vegetables are about halfway cooked, add the napa cabbage and chicken stock cube, then pour in the tomato purée and water and bring to a boil. Rinse the canned beans under running water and add them to the pot.

6. Add the short pasta to the boiling soup, stir well and cook for about 5 to 6 minutes.

7. Sprinkle with chopped parsley. Finish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese, or add black pepper and a drizzle of olive oil to taste.

Provided by Woori's Table