White bean & leek stew with basil gremolata

Name: White bean & leek stew with basil gremolata
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 500 g Essential Leeks, trimmed and thickly sliced; 2 clove/s garlic (large), finely chopped; 1 unwaxed lemon, zest of all, 2 tbsp juice; 400 g cans Essential Cannellini Beans, drained and rinsed; 300 ml Cooks’ Ingredients Vegetable Stock; 200 g frozen peas, defrosted; 25 g pack basil, stalks and leaves separated and finely chopped; 4 tbsp half fat crème fraîche; Crusty wholegrain bread, to serve

This speedy springtime stew is packed with nutrient-dense beans and greens. Serve with microwaveable wholegrains instead of bread, if you like.

5 out of 5 stars(2) Rate this recipe

VegetarianHealthyHigh fibre2 of your 5 a day

Serves4
CourseMain meal
Prepare15 mins
Cook15 mins
Total time30 mins

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Ingredients

500g Essential Leeks, trimmed and thickly sliced
2 clove/s garlic (large), finely chopped
1 unwaxed lemon, zest of all, 2 tbsp juice
2 x 400g cans Essential Cannellini Beans, drained and rinsed
300ml Cooks’ Ingredients Vegetable Stock
200g frozen peas, defrosted
½ x 25g pack basil, stalks and leaves separated and finely chopped
4 tbsp half fat crème fraîche
Crusty wholegrain bread, to serve

Method

Put the leeks in a large, microwave-safe bowl. Drizzle over the oil, season, then stir to coat in the oil. Microwave on high for 2 minutes, uncovered, then cover with a plate and microwave for a further 2 minutes. Stir well, add 1 chopped garlic clove and the lemon juice, cover again and microwave for 3 minutes on high.
Stir the drained beans, vegetable stock, peas and finely chopped basil stalks into the leek mixture. Cover and microwave on high for 3 minutes. Uncover and gently stir in 3 tbsp crème fraîche; season.
Meanwhile, to make the gremolata, combine the chopped basil leaves with the lemon zest and remaining chopped garlic. Divide the stew between bowls, top with the gremolata, a little crème fraîche and an extra 1 tsp olive oil per bowl, if liked. Serve with crusty wholegrain bread.

Cook’s tip

WHY IT’S GOOD FOR YOU

Cooking a stew in the microwave is likely to preserve more heat-sensitive nutrients because of the relatively short cooking time. The cooking liquid also helps retain more water-soluble micronutrients, such as the folate found in the leeks.