Pistou Vegetable Soup

Ingredients

 * 1 courgette, diced
 * 50 g (2 oz) potato, diced
 * 50 g (2 oz) onion, chopped \ 1 carrot, diced
 * 230 g (8 oz) can chopped tomatoes
 * salt and pepper to taste
 * 12 liters (2 pints) boiling water (approximately)
 * 50 g (2 oz) French beans, cut into 1 cm (½ inch) lengths
 * 50 g (2 oz) frozen petit pois
 * 50 g (2 oz) small pasta shapes
 * 4 – 6 tablespoons red pesto
 * freshly grated Parmesan cheese to serve

Directions

 * 1) Place the courgette, potato, onion, carrot and tomatoes in a large pan.
 * 2) Add seasoning and enough boiling water to cover generously.
 * 3) Simmer for 20 minutes.
 * 4) Add the French beans, petit pois and pasta.
 * 5) Cook for 10 minutes until the pasta is tender.
 * 6) Check the seasoning.
 * 7) Transfer the soup to individual soup plates, adding a tablespoon of pesto to each.
 * 8) Serve with grated Parmesan cheese.