A few years ago, when I was working as a personal trainer, I set a friend of mine called Donna a challenge. She has a brilliant cooking blog called A Cookbook Collection, and I wanted her to give me a recipe of a soup that would have 3 or less ingredients, had to have protein in it and wouldn’t need any chopping. I wanted to give my clients a recipe option that was ridiculously easy, healthy and quick to prepare. So she created this. It serves 2 people, includes one of your 5 a day. It is packed with protein from the beans so will keep you fuller for longer. And there is no chopping or prepping, so you can make it anywhere once you have a hob and a saucepan.

I make up the soup mix (the celery salt, onion powder, oregano, paprika and chilli) in advance for a couple of servings and put it in a glass herb jar so I don’t need to bring all the seasonings separately. 

  • 1 x 400g tin chopped tomatos
  • 1 x 400g tin haricot/cannellini beans
  • 400ml hot chicken or veg stock
  • 1 tsp onion powder/granules 
  • .5 tsp garlic powder
  • .5 tsp celery salt (or .25 tsp regular salt)
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • Pinch of chilli powder
  • .5 tsp pepper

Put everything except the beans into a pot, bring to the boil then cover & simmer for 15 mins. Add the beans & simmer for another 10 mins. Taste for seasoning & add more spice or salt as needed. Add a pinch of sugar if tomatoes are acidic. 

(lunch, hob)