0
0
0
0
0
Last week, on the first morning of mine and Mr. Scrummy’s short break in Melbourne, food capital of Australia, we encountered a brief awkward moment. Our friendly host at the B&B we were staying in greeted us at breakfast time and told us to help ourselves to cereal, yoghurt and fruit, then promptly sat down with a cup of coffee and started chatting to us. And chatting. And chatting. All well and good, but … erm … any chance of being offered any of that delicious-sounding cooked breakfast I could see out of the corner of my eye on the menu some time before Christmas?
So, a bit of a conundrum, really. Had we distracted him with our chatting and he’d simply forgotten that we hadn’t ordered our breakfast? Was he hoping that we didn’t want any because it was close to 10am when breakfast service ended? Were we only supposed to have either a continental OR a cooked breakfast and not both? I seriously considered kicking Mr. Scrummy under the table to get him to stop talking so that our host might get the hint.
In the end, Mr. Scrummy stopped talking of his own accord, gestured towards the menu and said something like ‘Sooo … what’s the deal here? Is it too late to order a cooked breakfast?’ It definitely wasn’t the smoothest of hints, but within a few seconds our host did catch on and spring into action in the kitchen. He emerged a short time later with a breakfast that was definitely worth the wait. But … well, weird (what would you have done??)
Soon after, we spilled out onto the streets of Melbourne and followed our noses to our next food experience … and our next … and our next. In just a few days, I think we sampled Spanish tapas, Vietnamese street food, Greek mezze, Italian, Mexican and Chinese, not to mention the umpteen coffees and cakes we had in the cute laneway cafes that are everywhere in this city. A highlight was our first evening when we scurried off to the well-over-a-century-old Queen Victoria market where there was a night market with a mouth-watering array of street food stalls. Our original plan was to have a quick look (Ha! Who were we kidding?) and then march on to a wonderfully authentic Italian restaurant we’d discovered on the famous Lygon Street on our previous visit. But how could we possibly resist a little taste of Malaysian roti with curry sauce? Or a teensy little Chinese dumpling or duck pancake? And what a shame to miss the crème brûlée that must be phenomenal considering the length of the queue at the stall.
Perhaps needless to say, we ended up having the equivalent of at least two meals that night. We had a couple of small tasters at the market, continued on to the Italian restaurant for carbonara (Mr. Scrummy) and eggplant parmigiana (me), then hurried back to the bustling market for a taste of that enticing crème brûlée. Oh, and since we had queued for so long we thought we might as well sample their chocolate cannoli as well. Yup, we were big piggies extraordinaires on this trip. The next morning, the whole routine began again, complete with longer-than-expected wait for breakfast. Lucky that we both love to walk and walk and walk and walk when we go on city breaks or I’m pretty sure we would have come back a few kilos heavier.
I absolutely loved the cosmopolitan energy of Melbourne and the fact that there always seemed to be a delicious smell emanating from some kind of eatery. Arriving back in Perth, though, I decided to try to give our bodies a rest from all the rich foods we’d eaten and made a simple-ish healthy soup – namely this spinach, cannellini bean & bacon soup. It really couldn’t be simpler to make but the bacon filled the kitchen with an aroma that ensured we didn’t miss our mini break too much!
To keep this soup bright green and fresh, I pretty much just wilted the spinach into the stock that I’d poured over onion, garlic and some cubed potato before blending it with one of the cans of cannellini beans and half of the bacon. I also decided to add some mint, lemon and nutmeg for a bit of zing. After serving my soup out into bowls, I sprinkled over more beans and bacon along with a spoonful of Greek yoghurt and a sprinkling of fresh crisp chives.
So delicious … and with all that spinach in there it should certainly give you back a bit of vitality after walking miles and miles and miles (and miles) around the food capital of Australia … or after whatever you’ve been doing to drain your strength this past week!
Serves: makes 4 generous servings
- about 1 ounce/25 grams butter
- about 10 ounces/300 grams bacon (about 8 to 9 rashers), chopped
- 1 onion
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed
- 1 medium potato, peeled and chopped into small cubes
- 4 cups/1 litre stock (chicken or vegetable)
- 2 x 14-ounce/400 gram cans cannellini beans
- about 10 ounces/300 grams fresh spinach, washed
- 2 to 3 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
- zest of a whole lemon and juice of ½ of it
- ½ a teaspoon of ground nutmeg
- freshly ground black pepper
- Greek yoghurt & fresh chopped chives to serve (optional)
- Melt the butter in a large pot, then when it’s hot fry the bacon until cooked and crisp. Remove the bacon from the pot and put aside.
- Fry the onion and garlic for a few minutes until softened and fragrant, then add the potato and stock and let simmer for about 10 minutes until the potato is cooked.
- Add 1 can of the cannellini beans and the spinach, then stir and cook for a couple of minutes until the spinach has wilted into the liquid. Add about half of the cooked bacon and any juices that have drained from it, the mint, lemon, nutmeg and pepper, then remove from the heat and blend with a handheld blender or in batches in a food processor until smooth (I used a handheld blender like this one
and it was super easy!)
- When smooth, add the second can of beans and the rest of the bacon (reserving a tiny bit of each for decoration), then serve out into bowls. Top with a little Greek yoghurt and chopped chives, if you like.
I hope you enjoyed this post! You can subscribe to receive posts directly to your inbox by entering your email address in the box below or at the top of the sidebar on the right.
You can also find more from Scrummy Lane on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Instagram and follow me on Bloglovin! Thanks so much for reading!
*This post may contain affiliate links which means that if you click on a link and make a purchase I get a small percentage of the amount you spend. At no extra cost to you, of course! Thank you!*
Related Posts:
00000
I am so sold on this soup. It has some of my favorite ingredients. Can’t wait to make this. Yummy Helen
Ooh, thanks Kathy! So glad you’re enthusiastic about this! I just finished off the last of it today for lunch and I have to admit it was yummy … and healthy, too … bonus!
I would love a bowl of this soup! And I am sure all the working helped stave off the kilos. We have a similar situation at the B & B we stay at when we go to see my MIL. The host is very chatty but thankfully his wife does the cooking 🙂
Well, this host’s partner was away … maybe that explains the more relaxed approach … haha! Anyway, he was very friendly and made a mean breakfast in the end, so all was forgiven. 🙂
Helen, I loved walking through the smorgasbord of restaurants in Melbourne you and Mr. Scrummy ate yalls way through – through your post. Your B&B owner sounds like quite the interesting character!
And I love this soup – spinach and cannellini with a hint of lemon zest and nutmeg and bacon sounds so good – refreshing and filling at the same time!
Thanks, Shashi! So happy you enjoyed your ‘little stroll’ through foodie Melbourne with us! Armchair food tourism … haha!
The lemon zest, nutmeg and bacon really makes this soup … so glad you like the sound of it!
Oh my goodness, that is a strange situation. Wonderful that he wanted to chat, but come on how could he not realize you needed to eat. Definitely strange.
This soup really looks amazing. I love that beautiful green color
It was a bit strange, wasn’t it? I think he was just super relaxed because it was low season … but still … ????
Glad you like the soup. Yes, it’s ‘green’ alright! 🙂
I know I would love this soup, Helen. Definitely ready for some cool nights so I can enjoy this soup.
Still hot over there, huh? Just warming up here in Oz … but still OK for soup!
Bonjour Helen, par ici il fait encore chaud mais même avec la chaleur, ta soupe me fait bien envie…
J’ai vu tes photos de Melbourne en Instagram, il a l’air d’être une ville palpitante !
Melbourne est vraiment palpitante, tu as raison! Tu dois y aller un jour si jamais tu as l’occasion. C’est l’une de mes villes favourites! 🙂
How did you know I just picked spinach today? Cannot wait for this beauty of a soup!
So happy to have given you some soup inspiration, Pamela. Hope you enjoy it … of course you will with all that lovely fresh spinach in there!
Good thing your husband was with you, otherwise you might have not gotten a breakfast! I never know what to do in those situations with chatty strangers. Especially since I am NOT a chatter with strangers. I like to keep to myself.
This soup sounds delicious! Such a pretty color!
I agree … I think I would have been too timid to say anything, gone without and then moaned afterwards (in true British style!)
Glad you like the colour of the soup. It’s very green, of course, but of course super healthy!
I probably would have done exactly what you guys did…tried to mentally will him to get in the kitchen and start cooking! Yikes. At least he finally took the hint.
Love this super green soup!
Hehe … yeah, there was a tense moment there for a while 😉
Glad you like the soup … easy to make vegetarian, too!
Just love how this soup is chock full of spinach, hey, it works for popeye, right =) I need to cram myself full of spinach because I need all I can get. And I love how you put in bacon and beans of course. What a great balance of nutrition, deliciousness and protein! Need this!
Thanks, Laura! It sure did work for Popeye! I felt very virtuous after eating this 2 days for lunch!
I’m sure you were happy to have the conversation but ready to eat, Helen! I get grumpy when I’m hungry, so I know the feeling! This soup sounds perfect for the fall! I love all of the flavors that are blended together. Sounds perfect!
Haha … it was so hard to concentrate on that conversation!!
Soup is one of my favorite ways to pack in the nutrients and I would say this does that with all that beautiful spinach, fresh herbs and fiber filled beans. Looks so good! Pining for sure! Thanks, Helen,
Thanks, Lori … I’m not surprised you like this one! I have to admit I felt very pleased with myself after eating it two days in a row!
I’ve been in a similar mindset since I got back from my travels. Trying to eat some healthy, lighter foods. Your trip to Melbourne sounds wonderful, I didn’t realize they had such a delicious variety of eats there!
Oh yes, you have got to visit Melbourne some time if you ever get the chance. It’s got a huge European and Asian population and wonderful authentic restaurants to match. 🙂
How have I never had spinach soup before?! I definitely need to try a vegetarian version of this!
Hi, Kelly! Oh, this would be great without the bacon, too! You could add in some extra flavourings if you liked such as extra mint and other herbs. Thanks so much for passing by!
I love soup! All year round! I haven’t had a soup like this before! I love the color! I can’t wait to try it!
This was the first time I’d ever made a spinach soup, but it was goooood … especially with the bacon in, of course. Hope you do try this and enjoy it, Annie1
I love any soup that packs in the vegetables, so this sounds great. Definitely trying it soon!
So happy you like it and are going to try it, Dannii. Hope you enjoy it!
Oh Gosh, this soup looks awesome and so flavourful! I wish I could have a bowl of this soup right now!
Thanks, Olivia!
I think that was about the best thing you could’ve done! I wouldn’t have been as polite – I don’t wait for breakfast well 😉
Or bacon! Fresh crispy bacon is SO good. And bean soups are my stand by in the winter! Everything about this soup sounds incredible Helen. Pinned!
Thanks so much for the pin, Mary Frances! And so glad you like the soup, too. I felt very healthy and virtuous after eating it … even though I sneaked in some tasty bacon!
Mr Scrummy’s approach to getting breakfast was brill. Still giggling at this.
Yeah, he’s one smooth operator!! Well, you can’t leave these kinds of things to chance!!
That looks so, so stunning! Yum!
Thanks so much for saying so, Alessandra! 🙂
Sounds like you had a terrific holiday! I think I need to get to Melbourne one day.
Your soup is gorgeous…and a perfect lighter meal 🙂
Any food blogger would adore Melbourne. Honestly, it’s food heaven!
So happy you like the soup … it certainly packs in the nutrients!
What a great soup Helen, sounds like you guys had a really nice trip. Love foodcations!
What a great description … a foodcation! I think pretty much every little break I go on becomes one of those!
That night market in Melbourne sounds so cool and fantastic! I’m all for 2 dinners 🙂 And this soup is stunning! Can never go wrong with bacon 🙂 🙂 🙂
I agree that you can’t go wrong with bacon. I’m even willing to consider trying your candied variety! 😉
Melbourne sounds like suchhhhh a FOODIE HEAVEN!!!!! OHMYGOSHHHHHH loving the sound of EVERYTHING you guys ate!!!!! YUUAAAMM! Also, this is pretty much the best comfort soup I can think of since it’s been raining non-stop for several days now and the weather’s become cold and beautiful and not to mention, perfect for this spinach and cannellini beans soup!
Thanks, Samina! It’s raining here too this morning which I’m really bummed about because I wanted to go running … boo hoo! Glad I could help you out on a cold rainy day with this soup!
When I have over indulged soup always makes me feel better, this looks so wholesome but a bit naughty with the bacon 😉
I think that was probably the overall effect I was trying to get. We can’t have things being TOO healthy now, can we? 😉
I get so cranky if I haven’t eaten, I think I might’ve lost it with chattiness! Mr. Scrummy handled very well keeping things in check. 🙂 This soup is just what I’ve been craving — too bad it’s been so hot here! I need to just crank the air conditioning so I can enjoy this anyway. I just love a good, healthy, bowl of soup, and the bacon certainly doesn’t hurt. 🙂
Yes, he’s definitely a smooth operator in such situations! No way would I have handled it so well by myself!
So happy you like the soup! It’s very early spring here in Australia, so I can still handle some hot soup … just about. 🙂
such a refreshing looking soup! love that green color!
Thanks so much, guys! I loved the colour, too. You get that by not over-cooking the spinach!
Ooh, your trip sounds fabulous! I would be eating my way through Melbourne for sure. The moment the temperatures dip below 85, this soup will be first on the menu, Helen! It looks so wonderful and I love the combination of flavors – especially the squeeze of lemon. I bet it tastes great with the spinach!
Thanks so much, Alyssa! I felt like the squeeze of lemon worked really well in this soup. I didn’t want it to end up too ‘green’ tasting, if that makes sense. It needed some other flavours in there, too.
I really hope you get the chance to visit Melbourne some day. I know it’s a long way from the USA, but honestly it’s a food paradise!
That would be a tad awkward! Some people really do have the gift of the gab (and gab and gab)… but I would probably have little patience for that at breakfast. I’m very “delicate” in the mornings, to put it nicely hehe. I think you guys handled that very well! And Melbourne sounds both amazing and delicious! I think I need to get there and eat my way through it all. This soup is really calling my name. I love love loveeee soup! The nutmeg in there is perfection -it’s one of my favourite spices to add with greens!
The nutmeg was an after-thought but I’m glad I added it in there!
I really would recommend a visit to Melbourne for any foodie … I know it’s a long way from … well, anywhere, really … but it’s honestly well worth the trip! I hope you get there some day, Allison! You would be able to eat your way around there for weeks!
Helen, we are with Mr. Scrummy on this, nobody shall mess with our cooked breakfast, and glad it was delicious. In our experience, most B&B’s do serve excellent breakfast, so our motto: please bring it on and lets chat later. Love your soup it has all our favorite ingredients 🙂
Oh, I couldn’t agree more! Save the chat for post-breakfast!!
Glad you like the soup!
Haha, that does sound like quite the conundrum! I get mean when I get hungry, so I think I would have demanded a hot breakfast right away! My husband likes to joke that I care too much about getting my meals on time sometimes. All that food sounds amazing and now I’m super hungry! Love the color of this green soup and it certainly does sound like a good way to detox after all that great food 🙂
Glad you like the colour … Mr. Scrummy kept joking that I must have scooped up some mossy pond water! Haha very funny I don’t think!
haha oh gosh, I am TERRIBLE in awkward situations like that! I’m glad you finally got your cooked breakfast!
This soup looks awesome – my kind of meal! And that color – gorgeous!
Oh, I’m awful, too … far too polite!! But I REALLY wanted that breakfast, so lucky hubs came to the rescue!!
I need to give my body a bit of a break! We’ve been in celebration mode as I’m travelling in China and it is the mid autumn festival today so lots to eat! I could do with this soup! 🙂
Oh no … forget the soup and enjoy the festival! Sounds wonderful!
Sounds like a wonderful trip! All that delicious food to enjoy.
This soup looks lovely. What terrific flavors!
Happy Wednesday!
Thanks so much, Melanie. Happy Wednesday to you as well! (actually, Thursday now 😉
Hehe…I loved your story. I don’t know how you made green soup look gorgeous, but you so did! This looks super delicious. 🙂
Haha … yes, I guess ‘green soup’ doesn’t really sound all that appetizing!! Thanks for the compliment, Tina .. so glad you liked it!
A healthy and flavorful soup…perfect for the cool evenings we are having now.
Thanks so much, Karen!