Challenge 47: Less than £1 - 99p Minestrone

[norfolkian]

I costed this dish at 99p for the whole thing (using J*mie Ol*ver maths) and it can serve 3 - 4 people.

Ingredients
1 tsp oil - 1p (I checked how much Jack Monroe costs oil on her recipes on her blog, as I couldn't work this out...)
1 small onion, diced - 5p (60p/kg at Sainsbury's)
1 stick celery, finely diced/sliced - 10p (60p/450g at Sainsbury's)
2 cloves garlic, crushed or finely chopped - 2p (35p for two bulbs Sainsbury's basics range)
1 tsp dried mixed herbs - 1p (£2.50/85g at Sainsbury's)
1 400g can chopped tomatoes - 30p (Sainsbury's basics)
700ml water (arguably free)
1 vegetable stock cube - 5p (45p for a pack of 10 - Sainsbury's own brand)
100g dried spaghetti, broken up into small lengths - 5p (20p/500g Sainsbury's basics)
1 300g can mixed vegetables, drained - 40p (Sainsbury's)
Salt and pepper to taste




Method
Heat the oil over a low/medium heat and add the onion and celery. Cook gently, stirring, for 10 - 15 minutes until softened. Add the garlic and herbs and cook for two more minutes, stirring. Pour in the tomatoes and water and bring to the boil. Crumble the stock cube into the pan, stir well to dissolve, and turn down to a simmer. Cover and simmer for 10 - 15 minutes. Uncover, add the spaghetti and simmer uncovered for about 10 minutes. Add the mixed vegetables and cook gently for 3 - 4 more minutes. Season with salt and pepper.



Maybe break your spaghetti into smaller lengths than I did... But either way, this was tasty!