Black Bean & Salsa Soup

This soup is sooooo good and you can tweak the recipe based on what veggies you have on hand. The recipe is vegan, but you can always add chicken or some other meat if you want extra protein, and/or garnish with shredded cheddar and/or sour cream.

Ingredients:
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 cup yellow onion, diced
3 or more cloves garlic, minced
1 cup red pepper, chopped
1.5 tsp cumin
1 tsp chili powder
1.5 cups chunky salsa, fresh (homemade or store bought) is better than jar salsa.
4 cups vegetable stock
2 15 oz cans black beans, drained
1 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels
Extra’s for serving (all are optional)
lime juice
fresh cilantro, chopped
tortilla chips
ripe avocado, cubed
hot sauce
shredded cheddar cheese
sour cream

Procedure:
1. Heat oil in a large soup pot. When hot, add garlic, onion, pepper, and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Stir and cooked for about 4 minutes.
2. Add cumin and chili powder, stir to coat. Then add salsa and vegetable stock. Bring to a low boil.
3. Add black beans and corn. Simmer covered for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. If you are adding meat, figure out when to add it based on what type and whether it is pre-cooked.
4. Enjoy on its own or add some of the extras suggested above.