Jai's Recipes

Servings: 4

PREP: 10 minutes COOK: 20 mins TOTAL:  30 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 TBSP olive oil
• 1/2 medium onion chopped
• 1/2 -1 jalapeno chopped (depending on heat tolerance)
• 3 cloves minced garlic
• 1/2 green and 1/2 red pepper chopped
• 1 can ( 14.5 oz) of fire roasted tomatoes
• 1 TBSP of tomato paste
• 2 cups vegetable broth
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp chilli powder (adjust to taste)
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 1 (14oz) can black beans drained and rinsed
• 1 cup frozen corn
  
  Optional Toppings
  
• Shredded cheese
• Chopped fresh cilantro or sliced green onions
• Sliced avocado
• Sour cream or Greek yogurt
• Tortilla chips or strips
• Lime wedges
  

Instructions

1. 1. 1. Heat the Oil
         In a Dutch oven or large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat.

      2. Sauté Aromatics
         Add the chopped onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent (about 5 minutes). Add the minced garlic and diced jalapeño, cooking for an additional minute until fragrant.

      3. Cook the Veggies
         Stir in the diced bell peppers and cook for 1-2 minutes.
         

      4. Add Tomatoes and Spices
         Mix in the fire-roasted tomatoes, tomato paste, ground cumin, smoked paprika, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Cook for 2-3 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.

      5. Incorporate Beans, Corn, and Broth
         Add the black beans, frozen corn, and vegetable broth. If you prefer a thinner soup, stir in up to 1/2 cup water.

      6. Simmer the Soup
         Reduce the heat to low and let the soup simmer for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
         

      7. Serve and Garnish
         Ladle the soup into bowls and top with your favorite toppings like cheese, avocado, cilantro, sour cream or tortilla chips. Serve hot with lime wedges on the side for a fresh squeeze of citrus.

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   Notes

   • Topping Suggestions: Shredded cheese, sliced avocadoes, chopped onions, chopped cilantro or green onions, sour cream, crushed tortilla chips are all good toppings for this hearty soup.
   • Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container  for up to 5 days.
   • Customization: The fire roasted tomatoes add extra flavor to the soup. If you can’t find them feel free to add any crushed tomatoes or even tomato sauce.