Minestrone

1 onion, peeled and sliced
1 clove garlic, peeled and crushed
1 carrot, peeled and diced
1 turnip, peeled and diced
1 leek, trimmed and sliced
1 celery stalk, sliced
225 g/8 oz tomatoes, skinned and roughly
chopped
50 g/2 oz broken pasta or long-grain rice
1.2 litres/2 pints stock
salt
freshly ground black pepper
1/2 small cabbage, shredded
100 g/4 oz runner beans, sliced
grated Parmesan cheese, to serve

Put the onion, garlic, carrot, turnip, leek, celery, tomatoes and pasta or rice in a large pan. Stir in the stock and add salt and pepper to taste.

Bring to the boil, then lower the heat, cover and simmer for 30 minutes or.until the vegetables are tender.

Add the cabbage and beans and cook for a further 5 to 10 minutes until tender. Taste and adjust the seasoning, then serve hot with Parmesan cheese handed separately.

SERVES 6