Spring Vegetable And Chickpea Soup With Cheese Toasts Recipes

SPRING VEGETABLE SOUP WITH RICOTTA TOAST

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender and lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add 1 more tablespoon olive oil and the sliced garlic; cook, stirring, until softened, about 30 seconds. Add the leeks, season generously with salt and cook, stirring, until they start softening, about 3 minutes. Add the chicken broth, rosemary sprig, 2 cups water and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to a steady simmer and cook until the vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat the broiler. Brush the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil on both sides of the bread. Broil, turning, until toasted, 3 to 5 minutes. Rub the bread with the smashed garlic. Top with the ricotta and lemon zest; season with salt and pepper.
• Stir the peas into the soup and heat through; season with salt and pepper. Divide the soup among bowls and serve with the toast. Sprinkle the soup and toast with the pecorino. Drizzle with olive oil.

AUTUMN VEGETABLE SOUP WITH CHEESY TOASTS

Steps:

• Put the vegetables into a large saucepan with the garlic, rosemary, stock and sugar. Season well, stir, bring to a simmer and cover. Cook gently for 15 minutes or until the vegetables are just tender.
• Preheat the grill to high. Whizz the tomatoes in a food processor or blender until smooth, then tip into the vegetables with the chickpeas and parsley. Gently heat through, stirring now and then.
• For the toasts: rub both sides of the bread with the garlic. Grill on one side until golden, turn the bread over, cover with edam and grill until it's bubbling. Serve at once with the piping hot soup.

CREAMY SPRING SOUP WITH GOAT'S CHEESE & PROSCIUTTO TOASTS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pan. Add the onion and fennel and fry gently for 10 mins or until softened but not coloured. Add the asparagus, garlic and fennel seeds and stir everything around in the pan for another 1-2 mins. Pour in the vegetable stock, season, and cover with a lid. Leave on a gentle simmer (but for no longer than 5 mins) while you prepare the toasts.
• Heat the grill. Put the ciabatta slices on a baking tray and drizzle with a little oil. Pop the bread under the grill for 2-3 mins each side or until golden and crisp. Remove the toasts and rub the garlic clove over each piece of toast.
• Add the peas to the soup, bubble for 1 min to defrost the peas, then remove the pan from the heat and add most of the watercress, the herbs and the double cream. Use a hand blender to blitz it to a smooth, creamy consistency. Check the seasoning - you will need to be quite generous.
• Spread each piece of toast with a little goat's cheese, then top with a slice of ruffled prosciutto, a dollop of pesto and a few small sprigs of watercress. Finally, drizzle over a little olive oil. Serve the toasts alongside the soup, with a bowl of pesto on the side.