INGREDIENTS 

• 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil, plus extra, to drizzle
• 1 red onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1L chicken stock
• 1 ham hock (Free Range & Australian Grown
• 2 carrots, diced
• 2 sticks celery, diced
• 1 small red capsicum, diced
• 1 desiree potato, peeled, cut into 1cm cubes
• 1 swede, peeled, cut into 1cm pieces
• 400g can chopped tomatoes
• 400g can borlotti beans, drained, rinsed
• 1 zucchini, cut into 1cm cubes
• ½ cup small dried pasta (such as macaroni)
• ½ cup basil leaves
• Parmesan chips, to serve (Bag of grated/shredded Parmesan)

1. Heat oil in a large heavybased saucepan over a medium heat. Add onion and garlic, cooking for 5 minutes or until soft. Pour in stock and 2.5L hot water, and bring to a simmer. Carefully add ham hock and cook, partially covered with a lid, for 1 hour or until meat is very tender and falling off the bone.
2. Add carrot, celery, capsicum, potato, swede, tomato and beans. Bring to a simmer, cooking for a further 30 minutes.
3. Remove pan from heat. Remove ham hock and set aside on a chopping board for 10 minutes. When cool enough to handle, remove and discard skin. Pull ham meat off bone and shred. Discard bone.
4. Return shredded ham to pan, along with zucchini and pasta, and stir. Cook for 20 minutes or until pasta is tender. Tear ½ of the basil and add to soup.
5. Ladle soup into serving bowls and drizzle over the extra oil. To serve, scatter with remaining basil leaves and top each bowl with a parmesan chip.
6. Paremesan Chips are super easy to make… just heap a tablespoon full onto a baking tray, space the heaps about 2cm apart and bake for 3-5min.  Keep an eye on them and enjoy as a little side snack!