1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
2 medium carrots, diced
2 celery ribs, diced
1 large leek, sliced into ½â€³ rings, washed well to remove any sand and drained in a colander
2 cloves garlic, chopped
3 Tablespoons tomato paste
1½ cups cooked white beans, rinsed (one 15 ounce can or homemade from dry beans)
1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes
6-8 cups vegetable or chicken broth, or water
2 sprigs fresh thyme
2 cups diced butternut squash
4-5 kale leaves, ribs removed, roughly chopped
salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste