Ingredients:
- 2 cups (300g) carrots, chopped into rounds
- 2 cups (150g) celery, sliced
- 1 medium (150g) yellow onion, wedged
- 1 large (150g) red bell pepper, diced
- 2 tbsp (30ml) extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp (5g) dried thyme
- 1/2 tsp (3g) salt
- 1/4 tsp (1g) black pepper
- 2 cans (15 oz/425g each) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
- 6 cups (1.4L) low-sodium vegetable broth
- 4 cloves (20g) garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp (15ml) tomato paste
- 1 tsp (2g) smoked paprika
- 2 cups (60g) fresh baby spinach or kale, chopped
- 1 tbsp (15ml) fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 cup (10g) fresh parsley, minced
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). On a large baking sheet, toss the carrots, celery, onion, and bell pepper with olive oil, thyme, salt, and pepper. Spread in a single layer and roast for 20 minutes or until edges are charred and tender.
- While vegetables roast, heat a splash of oil in a pot over medium heat. Add minced garlic and tomato paste, stirring for 1-2 minutes until the paste turns a deep brick red. Stir in the vegetable broth and smoked paprika, bringing the mixture to a gentle simmer.
- Stir the roasted vegetables and rinsed white beans into the broth. Use an immersion blender to pulse the soup 3-4 times to create a creamy emulsion. Simmer for an additional 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and fold in the chopped spinach and lemon juice until the greens are wilted. Garnish with minced parsley.