Black Bean Soup

Now that it’s officially winter, it’s the perfect time to curl up up with a bowl of soup!  No, I don’t just mean opening a can of soup either.  I’ve found a great soup recipe that is quick, easy, and delicious at Cooking with All Things Trader Joe’s.  Their site has tons of great recipes that feature products from Trader Joe’s.  Don’t worry though, you can find the ingredients for this soup at any grocery store.  You’ll need:

• 1 medium yellow onion, peeled and chopped (about 2 cups)
• 1 clove crushed garlic or 1 tsp jarred crushed garlic
• 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil1 tsp ground cumin
• 2 (15-oz) cans black beans (do not drain)
• 1 cup chunky salsa
• 2 Tbsp lime juice (juice of 1 lime)
• Sour cream
• 1/2 lb of browned ground beef (optional – this is an addition of my own to the recipe)

In a medium pot, sauté the onions in olive oil until they are soft and translucent.   Sprinkle in the cumin and garlic and sauté it all for another minute.  Now pour in the black beans (including the juices), salsa, and lime.  (Here is where I added in a half pound of browned ground beef.  I enjoy meaty soups, but feel free to leave out the meat if you’d like)  Stir it all together and simmer covered for 20 minutes.
Ladle the soup into individual bowls and top it off with a dollop of sour cream.  Tortilla chips go nicely on the side.  Total cooking time should be about 30 minutes, and it should serve 4-6 people.

Enjoy!

Tagged as: beans, beef, onion, soup