Tuscan White Bean & Spinach Soup

Description: This dish was inspired by Vote_for_Pedro's White Bean & Spinach Soup. Like the original, this is quick, easy and full of flavor. It makes a nice dinner for 4 served with a good salad or it can be a starting course and serve more. Use 3 or 4 cups of broth according to how thick you like your soups or how much liquid your pasta absorbs.

Ingredients:

• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 garlic clove, finely minced
• 1 shallot, finely diced
• 3 -4 cups fat free chicken broth or 3 -4 cups vegetable stock
• 1 (14 1/2 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 1 (14 1/2 ounce) can white beans (cannellini or other)
• 1/2 cup whole wheat pasta shells or 1/2 cup shell pasta
• 1 teaspoon rosemary
• 3 cups Baby Spinach, cleaned and trimmed
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 dash crushed red pepper flakes

Steps:

1. In a large sauce pan, sautee the shallots & garlic in the olive oil.
2. Add broth, tomatoes, beans and rosemary to pot. Season with black and red pepper. Bring to boil.
3. Add pasta and cook 12 minutes. If the soup seems too thick for your liking add a bit more broth.
4. Add spinach and cook until wilted.