Satisfying Black Bean Soup

Besides all the benefits that beans have, as outlined in my pinto bean lens, black beans carry the color packed flavonoids. Eight extra flavonoids that equals red wines in anti-oxidants. It is in the black skin that these flavonoids hold their punch.

The omega 3 fatty acids are 3 times stronger in the black bean than the rich red kidney bean. So reach for the black ones and get a new taste treat in the bargain.

My daughter used the recipe from a can of black beans as a guide for her own concoction. I throw the can away but the ingredients were something like this.

1 can of chicken broth
1 can of black beans half of the beans mashed
1/2 cup salsa
1 tablespoon chili powder

It was fast but Marcy wasn't done. She added spicy tomato sauce instead and frozen petite corn. Also a teaspoon of ancho chili pepper.

The next day I had what was left for lunch and raved to her about it that evening.

"I bet it would taste good with freshly cooked black beans," Marcy offered.

I went to the Latino swap meet to buy pinto beans and I bought a couple of pounds of black beans, as well. The vendor was very generous and threw in 4 heads of garlic.



The next day I made a pot of black beans and everyone liked the soup. I set a bowl aside without the El Pato for my husband.

I wrote the recipe down, but thought it would make a worthy lens to share with everyone and I would always know where it find it.

STEP ONE

1 1/3 cups dried black beans cooked till tender.

The instructions on how to make a pot of beans is covered in my lens about refried beans.

How to Make Refried Pinto Beans

Drain the beans and save a cup of liquid for adjustments later.

Mash half of the black beans and combine with the whole beans into a 3 quart pot.

STEP TWO
Add:

1 can chicken or vegetable broth.
8 oz. can tomato sauce. El Pato Brand (Mexican Hot Sauce)
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
2 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. ancho chili pepper (Click spice bottle above)

1/4 cup minced onion
1 tomato finely chopped
3/4 cup frozen petite corn
juice of half lemon

Adjust soup with cooking liquid if necessary. Heat till hot and serve with tortillas warmed till slightly browned.

Garnish with mozzarella cheese or sour cream.

Enjoy Your Hot and Spicy Black Bean Soup

P.S. Canned beans are okay too. Use two or three.

Panza llena, corazon contento.

Full Stomach, contented heart.

Black beans are a favorite of the southern part of Mexico and the lower Caribbean states such as Vera Cruz.. Some in Mexico call the black bean "the poor man's bean".

Aranda, Charles. Dichos. Proverbs and Sayings From the Spanish. New Mexico: Sunstone Press, 1977.