Name: Easy Beetroot soup
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 55 min
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: British
Ingredients: 2 tbsp olive oil; 1 large onion finely chopped; 2 garlic cloves crushed; 1kg fresh beetroot peeled and diced (wear rubber gloves to stop your hands turning pink); 1 ½l vegetable stock; ½ small loaf sourdough bread diced into large croutons; 100g radishes finely sliced; 100g feta crumbled

2 tbsp olive oil
1 large onion
finely chopped
2 garlic cloves
crushed
1kg fresh beetroot
peeled and diced (wear rubber gloves to stop your hands turning pink)
1 ½l vegetable stock

For the croutons

½ small loaf sourdough bread
diced into large croutons
100g radishes
finely sliced
100g feta
crumbled

Method

step 1
Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large saucepan and add the chopped onion, frying for 5 mins until slightly softened. Add the garlic, stirring to combine for 1 min, then toss in the beetroot and cook for 15 mins.
step 2
Pour in the stock and bring to the boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for 30 mins or until the beetroot is tender. Season well and leave to cool a little before blending.
step 3
Meanwhile, to make the crouton topping, heat the grill to high and put the sourdough croutons on a baking sheet drizzled with the remaining 1 tbsp oil and toast until golden. Whizz the soup until smooth using a hand blender.
step 4
If serving the soup chilled, leave to cool completely and chill for a couple of hrs before serving. If serving hot, warm through in the pan for 2-3 mins. Serve in bowls or mugs with the croutons, radishes and crumbled feta scattered over.