Cozy Black Bean

Satisfy your craving for comfort food! This recipe is warm and divine, like being wrapped in a warm blanket. It will fill your whole home with with the scent of ground chiles and warm spices. I go back to this plant-based soup again and again… I hope you do too. 

Servings: 6-8
Prep time: 25 min
Cooking time: 25 min-2 hours (if beans begin raw)

Ingredients
6 C of water
2 C black beans, soaked overnight, drained OR 4 (15oz) cans unsalted black beans
1 large onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 C fresh corn kernels, cut off the cob, or frozen corn, optional
One 4 1/2 oz can diced chilies, OR 2 Tbsp diced fresh mild green chilies
1/4 C fresh cilantro
2 Tbsp tomato paste
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp of salt
Pinch of freshly ground pepper

Garnish options
Chopped fresh cilantro
Minced onion
Crumbled baked
Tortilla chips
Instructions
In a large stock pot or Dutch oven, add the beans, water, onions, and garlic. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer.
Cook covered for 1 1/2 hours or until the beans are tender.
If using canned beans… In a large stock pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, add the beans, onions and garlic.
Simmer covered for 10 min.

Next steps for both types of beans…
Stir in corn, chilies, cilantro, tomato paste, cumin, oregano, chili powder, and black pepper. Simmer uncovered for 30 min or until the soup is somewhat thickened.
The longer the beans simmer, the thicker the soup will be.
Add salt when soup has reached desired thickness.