Thinking of trimming the budget and waistline after the holidays? This pesto and bean soup is quick, easy on the pocketbook, healthful and delicious.

A simple pesto sauce adds body and flavor to the Italian soup. Pesto, made from basil, is considered one of the world's best pasta sauces. Happily, there are many good prepared ones that add flavor and save time.

Pasta and beans are both at the top of the list for healthy diets. This meal can be turned into a vegetarian dinner by substituting vegetable broth.

This recipe calls for acini pepe, a very small pasta that is perfect for soups. You can use pastina, orzo (rice-shaped pasta) or any type of small pasta. You can also use leftover pasta. Break it into small, equal-size pieces.

The soup on its own is a meal in itself, or make this colorful accompaniment:

• Roasted Pepper Bruschetta: Heat broiler and line a baking sheet with foil. Spray one side of 2 slices Italian bread (or 2 split Italian rolls) with olive oil. Place under broiler 1 minute. Remove and spoon 2 tablespoon sliced roasted red peppers over each piece of bread. Return to broiler for 1 minute.

This meal contains a total of 682 calories per serving with 19 percent of calories from fat.

• Fred Tasker's wine suggestion: I'd drink a simple chardonnay with this.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Great Northern beans can be substituted for cannellini beans.

• Thick sliced country bread or French baguette can be used instead of Italian bread.

COUNTDOWN

• Prepare soup.

• Preheat broiler.

• While soup cooks, make bruschetta.

SHOPPING LIST

To buy: 1 can cannellini beans, 1 small box acini pepe or other small pasta, 1 small loaf Italian bread or 2 Italian rolls, 1 small jar sweet roasted peppers, 1 can olive oil spray, 1 container prepared pesto sauce, 1 bottle dry white wine, 1 small package frozen peas.

Staples: Onion; carrots; hot pepper sauce; fat-free, low-salt chicken broth.

Linda Gassenheimer's latest book is The Portion Plan: How to Eat the Foods You Love and Still Lose Weight. Her website is dinnerinminutes.com.

Join the discussion

The Miami Herald is pleased to provide this opportunity to share information, experiences and observations about what's in the news. Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site or in the newspaper. We encourage lively, open debate on the issues of the day, and ask that you refrain from profanity, hate speech, personal comments and remarks that are off point. In order to post comments, you must be a registered user of MiamiHerald.com. Your username will show along with the comments you post. Thank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts.

     Showing: Oldest first Newest first Most-recommended first Least-recommended first

@Nyx.AuthorDisplayName@ wrote on @Nyx.PostedAtTime@:

@Nyx.repliedToText@

@Nyx.replyAnswerText@

Reply to this Comment @Nyx.Recommender@ @Nyx.AbuseReporter@