Black Bean Soup for Soup-a-Palooza

“Come join Soup-a-Palooza with TidyMom and Dine and Dish sponsored by Bush’s Beans, Hip Hostess, Pillsbury and Westminster Crackers."

Chicken and Black Bean Soup

Chicken & Black bean soup

1 small onion
1/2 green bell pepper
1 tsp hot oil
1 (16 oz ) jar spicy black bean dip {I like the Paul Newman brand.)
2 (16 oz ) cans black beans
2 cups chopped or shredded cooked chicken (Sometimes I leave out the chicken.)
4 cups chicken broth
Optional toppings:
sour cream
shredded Cheddar cheese
baked tortilla strips or chips
diced tomatoes
diced onion
avocado slices
cilantro
Dice onion and bell pepper; saute in 1 tsp hot oil in a Dutch oven over med./high heat for about 3 minutes. Whisk in 4 cups chicken broth and 1 jar spicy black bean dip until smooth. Bring to a boil and stir in 2 cans black beans (may rinse and drain), and 2 cups chopped chicken. Cook 5 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Top individual bowls of soup with your choice of toppings.
* recipe from Southern Living, April 2005 

I also cook a small pot of brown rice and put the rice in the bowls then top with the soup. And my latest addition to cooking anything Latin inspired is Goya brand Sofrito. It's a tomato base with green bell peppers, onion, cilantro and garlic in olive oil. I add 1 T. to this recipe.