{"id":264986,"date":"2025-06-26T12:49:48","date_gmt":"2025-06-26T10:49:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/districtmailhelderberg\/?p=264986"},"modified":"2025-06-26T12:51:17","modified_gmt":"2025-06-26T10:51:17","slug":"a-minestrone-soup-to-knock-the-winter-blues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/districtmailhelderberg\/a-minestrone-soup-to-knock-the-winter-blues\/","title":{"rendered":"A minestrone soup to knock the winter blues"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The cold season has arrived and invites us to slow down, savour nourishing meals and cook with greater purpose; think hearty stews, aromatic curries and soul-warming soups, among them the very balmy minestrone soup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But long hours at the stove are not always practical, especially with rising electricity costs and the challenge of load shedding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This winter, be inspired by Wonderbag \u2013 a revolutionary non-electric, heat-retention cooker that makes it easy to prepare nutritious meals without electricity or fire \u2013 saving time, energy and money in the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Try this hearty <strong>minestrone soup<\/strong> recipe:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Preparation time: 15 minutes<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Stove time: 10 minutes<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Wonderbag time: two to four hours<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Serves: 4<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Ingredients<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>3 tbsp olive oil<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>2 large onions, finely chopped<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>2 sticks of celery, finely chopped<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>2 tbsp green pesto<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>2 cloves of garlic, grated<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>1 medium yellow onion, diced<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>2 medium carrots, chopped<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>2 celery ribs, thinly sliced<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>2 litres of chicken or vegetable stock<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>1 can of chopped tomatoes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>1 can of cannellini beans<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>100 g chopped courgette<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>50 g dried spaghetti broken into short lengths, or any small pasta such as Ditalini, cooked<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>2 bay leaves<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>1 tsp mixed oregano and thyme<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>salt<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>ground black pepper<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>basil leaves and parmesan cheese to serve<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Method<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1. Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, celery, salt, and several grinds of black pepper. Cook the vegetables until they begin to soften.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2. Next, add the garlic, tomatoes, courgette, broth, bay leaves, oregano and thyme. Bring to the boil, then cover the pot with your lid and simmer for about 10 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>3. Switch off your gas or electricity source, and place a tea towel at the bottom of your Wonderbag. Swiftly transfer your pot into the Wonderbag, cover the Wonderbag with its fabric lid and secure it by pulling the cord tightly.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>4. Allow the dish to cook undisturbed for a minimum of two hours, then stir in the pasta. Cover with your lid and return it to the bag to cook the pasta.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>5. Serve with black pepper, basil leaves and shavings of parmesan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>* Click <a href=\"https:\/\/shop.wonderbagworld.co.za\/\">here<\/a> for more recipes using the Wonderbag. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Winter encourages nourishing cooking, especially with the Wonderbag, a non-electric heat-retention cooker. 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the family's favourite minestrone soup this winter.","article_media_icon":"1","article_template":"news","author_byline":"","background_color":"","block_editor":"1","byline":"Ya\u00ebl Malgas","cmplz_hide_cookiebanner":"","competition_end_date":"","contact_advertise_email":"","contact_advertise_phone":"","contact_editorial_email":"","contact_general_email":"","contact_general_phone":"","contact_office_hours":"","contact_physical_address":"","enabled":"","featured_image_custom_caption":"","featured_video_url":"","fields":"","font_body":"","font_header":"","frequency":"","headline":"A soup to knock the winter 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