Nannu Salvu’s Toqlija – Grandpa Sam’s Soup.

As my blog is aptly named after my culinary queen and beloved grandma, it is only fair that my first family recipe I share with you all is named after my grandpa sam – ‘Nannu Salvu’.  And no I did not just come up with the name for the soup for the sake of my blog, this soup has been fondly named ‘It – Toqlija tan- nannu salvu’ well in my memory forever and all my numerous cousins would say the same! The reason being when ‘Nanna Rita’ was either too sick to cook or in hospital, ‘Nannu Salvu’ would wear the apron for the day and cook us his old faithful soup. So we all knew that as soon as Nanna was in hospital, that is what Nannu Salvu would cook for us all. To this day if I am either too busy or a bit under the weather, it is the soup I go to as it is so simple and yet so tasty as well. This soup is also suitable to freeze for up to at least 1 month, and it is also ideal if you or any members of your family are vegetarians as minor changes to ingredients would turn it into veggie soup heaven.

To make this fabulous soup you will need:

6 potatoes – ideally large

1 tomato

1 Onion – also large

2tbsp – tomato pure

2 chicken cubes – or vegetable cubes (for the veggies)

1 can peas – this ideally should be marrow fat as the garden peas aren’t so tasty for this soup.

1 slice bacon – (optional)

1 tbsp – oil

pinch of salt

A small handful of spaghetti split into small pieces. (this might sound strange, but in Malta, Italy and the Med we have special tiny pasta that we use specifically for soups – the crushed spaghetti is a suitable alternative)

-       Put all the ingredients in a large pot,  (but not the pasta and leave half the marrow peas too) fill the pot half full with water

-       Mix well, and cook on a high heat until water boils, mixing every now and then. Then turn it into a medium heat.

-       When the potatoes are cooked, take them out and mash them, add the mashed potatoes back to the soup.

-       Add this point add the pasta, and the other half of the marrowfat peas, mix well and turn it onto a low heat until the pasta have cooked.

-       Enjoy with warm crusty bread and one or two glasses of wine!