Smoky Butter Bean Soup with Tomato and Spinach - The Pesky Vegan

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 medium carrots, scrubbed and diced
• 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons tomato puree
• 1½ teaspoons smoked paprika ((plus more to taste))
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried sage
• 1x 14 oz (400 g) tin tomatoes
• 2x 14 oz (400 g) tins butter beans, drained and rinsed
• 4 cups (1 litre) vegan stock
• 2 bay leaves
• 3 tablespoons nutritional yeast ((optional))
• 3 oz (100 g) fresh spinach ((approx. 3 cups))
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Small handful fresh parsley ((optional))