Provencal Tomato Soup with Green Beans and Rice

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 onion, chopped  

2 stalks celery, chopped

1 large carrot, grated

1/2 cup uncooked short-grain rice

½ cup frozen green beans

1 jar tomato sauce or 1 can diced tomatoes

3 cups water, or more as needed

2 cups vegetable broth  

Salt and pepper to taste

1 clove garlic, minced 

1/4 cup chopped fresh oregano

Basil and Bulgarian cheese for decoration. 

 

Cooking instructions:

Start by heating the water. Put the olive oil and add the onion, garlic, celery, and carrot; cook and stir vegetables until they begin to soften, approximately 5 minutes. Add the tomato sauce and vegetable broth. Bring to a boil. Add the frozen green beans. After 5 minutes add the rice. Reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. Season to taste with more salt and pepper. Stir in the freshly chopped oregano. Decorate with some basil and diced Bulgarian cheese and serve.