With four feet of snow knocking on our door, we hunkered down and stayed inside all day. We prepared for the big storm by stocking up our kitchen, so we are cozy relaxing for a couple of days until we decide to dig ourselves out.
What could make a better dinner on a day like this than a steamy bowl of soup? I made a quick and easy Picante Pinto Bean Soup. It’s healthy and hearty, and can be served vegan, with cheese and sour cream, or over rice. I eat the vegan version and my husband loads on all of the fixins.
Picante Pinto Bean Soup
Author: Eva Marie
Recipe type: Soup
Cuisine: Southwest
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup diced red pepper
- 1 cup diced onion
- ½ cup diced celery
- 3-4 cloves garlic, sliced
- 2 - 15.5 ounce cans pinto beans
- 3 cups water
- 1 plum tomato, chopped
- 1 cup diced mushrooms
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 1½ teaspoon coarse sea salt
- 2 bay leaves
- ½ teaspoon chili powder (I like Ancho or Chipotle)
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Optional: 2 teaspoons Bragg's Nutritional Yeast Seasoning
Instructions
- Warm the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
- Add the red pepper, onion and celery, and sauté for 10 minutes until tender.
- Stir in the garlic and warm through.
- Pour the beans and water in.
- Add the tomato, mushrooms, cilantro, all of the dry spices and herbs, and salt and pepper.
- Bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
- Remove 1 cup of soup and puree it with an immersion blender and then return to pot and mix in thoroughly.
- Serve as a soup or with rice.
- Garnish with sliced green onion, fresh cilantro, sour cream, and cheese.
What a perfect soup! Beans of all shapes and sizes are a staple in my diet, but I can’t recall the last time I went for a bean soup. Your photos alone made me very hungry! I hope the storm clears without too much inconvenience, but you’re definitely eating well! 🙂
Thank you Debra! We survived the storm and ate well while waiting for it to pass. Spring is just around the corner. Can’t wait!