ITALIAN HAM AND BEAN SOUP

After 2 day of weather over 30 Degrees celsius in Melbourne's spring, we now have a miserable rainy cold day! I thought I would make a soup, and as we ate at a friends house last night, I blew my diet completely (with a double dessert and drinks!) This soup is low calorie and filling and only has 307 calories per serve! Great for lunch too.

INGREDIENTS:

400g dried pinto beans soaked overnight in cold water.
2 sprigs rosemary
2 bay leaves
500g ham bone (find these in the deli, they are the bone end from the ham off the bone, don't be tempted to use bacon bones they taste like dog bones)
2 tbs extra virgin olive oil
1 onion finely chopped
1 young celery stalk with leaves finely chopped
1 carrot finely chopped
1 can diced tomatoes
750mls chicken stock
750 mls water

Drain soaked beans and give them a wash. Place in a heavy based saucepan with ham bone, rosemary and bay leaves. Add enough cold water to cover bean and about 4 cm extra above. Simmer over low heat for 40 minutes. Drain and when cool enough chop meat from ham bone and reserve.

Place oil in a large frying pan on medium heat, cook onions, until soft, add celery and cook for another 2 minutes then add carrots and cook for another 2 minutes then add chopped meat and cook for another 2 minutes. Season add tomatoes and stock, and drained beans and cook for 20 minutes. If soup is too thin remove 1 cup and puree and if too thick add some more water. Check seasoning and serve with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.