Trader Joes Latin Black Bean Soup

Ingredients

• 1 medium yellow onion, peeled and chopped (or use 1 1/2 cups TJ’s Freshly Diced Onion)
• 1 clove crushed garlic, or 1 cube frozen Crushed Garlic
• 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 2 (15-oz) cans black beans (do not drain)
• 1 cup (half a jar) of your favorite salsa, such as Trader Joe’s Chunky Salsa
• 2 Tbsp lime juice (juice of 1 lime)
• Plain yogurt or sour cream (optional)

Instructions

1. In a medium pot, add the olive oil and sauté the onions until they are soft and translucent.
2. Add cumin and garlic, sautéing for an additional minute.
3. Pour in black beans (including juices), salsa, and lime juice. Stir to combine and bring to a simmer. Simmer covered for 20 minutes.
4. When serving the soup, top with a dollop of yogurt or sour cream.

Notes

If you’re on a sodium-restricted diet, make sure you check the label, as most canned beans tend to be already seasoned with some salt. You can either use no-added-salt canned beans, or you can drain and rinse beans, replacing the liquid with low-sodium broth.

If you prefer a smoother soup, puree one of the cans of beans (often I make a double batch of this soup and puree 2 of the cans).  You can also let it simmer longer and get very thick for a terrific bean dip or burrito filling!  

This soup is even better the next day (make extra for leftovers) and it freezes well.