Spinach And Meatball Soup With Outer Space Pasta - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 teaspoons olive oil
1 leek, chopped (white and light green parts only)
1 carrot, diced
1 stalk celery, diced
1 zucchini, diced
1 (900 ml) package no-salt-added beef broth
1 cup bottled strained tomatoes (passata)
1 cup president's choice blue menu outer space pasta
24 frozen low-fat meatballs
1 cup packed Baby Spinach, coarsely chopped
salt & freshly ground black pepper

Preparation

1. Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Add leek, carrot, celery and zucchini. Cook while stirring occasionally until beginning to soften, about 5 minutes.
2. Add broth and passata; bring to a boil. Add pasta; stir occasionally until liquid returns to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer; cook 5 minutes.
3. Stir in frozen meatballs; return to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until meatballs are heated through and pasta is tender but firm; about 7 to 9 minutes.
4. Stir in spinach, salt and pepper; cook until spinach is wilted, about one minute.
Chef's tip: Substitute a quarter cup frozen chopped spinach for fresh spinach, if that's what you have on hand.