SUPER EASY Black Bean Soup

This is one of the easiest, yummiest things we make. We have it for Halloween dinner every year - and lots of other nights as well.

Black Bean Soup a.k.a. Ghoul Goulash

(Loosli Traditional Halloween Dinner - and a soup we eat year-round)

5 16 oz cans of black beans (or 8 cups cooked-from-dry black beans - see how to do this here)

2 cups chicken broth or vegetable broth

2 small onions or one large one, chopped

2 tsps crushed or minced garlic

2 16 oz jars of chunky salsa (mild, medium or hot – will determine how spicy the soup is – can use 2 15-oz can of petite diced tomatoes and 1-2 cans of diced green chilis instead of salsa if desired, may want to use more onion if not using salsa)

8 tsp lime juice or the juice of 4 limes (optional)

4 tsp ground cumin

½ crushed red pepper (optional – adds heat)

Directions:

1. Place 2 cans of beans with liquid from can (or 3 cups of cooked beans and 3/4c of the liquid they cooked in) as well as the broth in a blender. Blend until smooth.
2. Coat large sauce pan or soup pot with cooking spray or a bit of olive oil. Heat over high heat and saute onion until tender.
3. Add blended bean mixture, remaining un-blended beans (with liquid), salsa, lime juice, cumin and crushed red pepper (if desired). Mix together.
4. Reduce heat to simmer and cook for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. Serve garnished with plain yogurt or sour cream, chopped cilantro, shredded cheese, crumbled tortilla chips.

Makes 8-10 servings