best black bean soup ever

i’ve been in a soup kick lately… and the main reasons as to why are as follow:

cold weather, easy prep, i have a crock pot, nutritious, and did i mention the weather?!?

yeah, the latter one doesn’t apply to you floridians or southern californians, or wherever you are and it’s warm… you lucky, you. haha. but seriously, i think i want to move to hawaii and never move back to the main land. ha! we’ll see.

if you follow me on instagram you’ve probably seen my pictures of this amazing black bean soup! and if you read this blog, you probably saw the green lentil soup recipe here. and the reason why i mention the green lentil soup is because i used the same technique for the black bean soup.

this soup is pretty easy to make and not to mention that it’s the soup that keeps on giving. you’ll have tons of leftovers and you can even strain the beans and use them in other dishes or salads.

below i show how to make the soup and what it looks like when it’s ready to eat :)

enjoy!

start off by rinsing the beans thoroughly.

IMG_6679

add beans to crock pot followed by water.

IMG_6685

celery, carrots, onions, garlic, red bell pepper {not shown} and spices are next.

IMG_6689

IMG_6693

paprika!

IMG_6694

chili powder.

IMG_6697

the star of this soup – cumin.

IMG_6698

IMG_6699

i used coarse peppercorns. you can use regular pepper or fresh ground.

IMG_6703

IMG_6704

mix well and then add parsley, so it doesn’t tangle in your spoon.

IMG_6705

IMG_6706

once it’s done cooking, take out all veggies and puree in a food processor.

that’s my husband helping out ;)

IMG_6710

IMG_6712

scoop one cup of the black beans and puree with veggies in the food processor.

IMG_6714

IMG_6719

and add 1/4 cup of liquid from the crock pot.

IMG_6720

add mixture back to crock pot and stir well.

IMG_6723

sprinkle some cheese, tortilla chips and sour cream or greek yogurt. i added a dollop of this dip i made here.

IMG_6925

IMG_6931

IMG_6941

best black bean soup ever

1 lb bag dry black beans {i use la preferida}
1 carrot, cut in big chunks
1 stack celery, cut in chunks
1 garlic clove, peeled
1/4 large white onion, cut in big chunks
1/4 red bell pepper, cut in big chunks
3 sprigs parsley, whole
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper
6 cups of hot water
shredded cheese {mozzarella, cheddar or monterey jack works}
chopped parsley for garnish

serves 8 people

directions:

turn crock pot to high setting and let it preheat.

rinse black beans thoroughly and add to crock pot along with 6 cups of water. add carrot, celery, garlic, onion and red bell pepper. stir well.

add paprika, cumin, cayenne pepper, chili powder, sea salt and black pepper. stir again until combined.

add parsley last so it doesn’t tangle when you stir all ingredients.

cook over high setting for four hours or for 6 1/2 on slow. once it’s done cooking, turn crock pot off.

take out all vegetables and put in a food processor or blender. scoop out 1 cup of black beans {including liquid} and add to food processor. scoop out 1/4 cup of liquid only and add to food processor also. blend until creamy.

add veggie/black beans mixture back to the crock pot and mix well.

serve hot with shredded cheese and tortilla chips on top. you can also add chopped cilantro or parsley, and cubed avocados!

**note: you can make this soup in an oven proof pot. cook for 3 hours or until beans are soft at 350f.**

FacebookTwitterGoogle+

Share This Post

green lentil soup

winter is in full blast and it seems like it’s going to stay for a little while. to compensate the cold weather, i work out a lot, drink hot chocolate with delicious vanilla marshmallows on top {wedding gift}, bake and make healthy soups in the crock pot.

growing up, i had to eat a lot of beans, and beans soups. lentils {red and green}, black beans, dark kidney beans, etc. black beans are actually part of our typical dish “pabellon” … plaintains, rice, shredded beef and black beans.

even though it was always warm, we ate soups. weird, right?

the lentil soup i made this past week is easy and nutritious.

the pictures don’t look appealing at all, but i promise it tastes really, really good.

here’s the how-to and final result. enjoy!

after cooking vegetables for a while, put them in a food processor or blender.

IMG_6144

scoop out 1 cup of lentils and add to food processor.

IMG_6145

IMG_6147

IMG_6149

puree until smooth.

IMG_6150

add mixture back in the crock pot and mix well.

IMG_6151

IMG_6154

garnish with cubed avocados, cilantro and cayenne pepper.

IMG_6438

IMG_6445

IMG_6440

IMG_6442

green lentil soup

ingredients:

1 lb bag green lentils {i use la preferida}
6 cups lukewarm water
1/2 medium onion, cut in big chunks
3 whole cloves garlic, peeled
1 green onion, barely chopped
1/2 orange or red bell pepper
1/2 tsp sea salt, more or less if needed
1/2 tsp fresh ground black pepper
1/2 tsp curry powder
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper, more or less {it depends how much of a kick you like in your food}
avocados, cilantro and cayenne pepper to garnish {optional}

serves 6 people.

directions:

rinse lentils in a large strainer in the kitchen sink for a minute or so until clean. i rinse them in batches because it’s a bit easier to handle.

put lentils in a slow cooker with the water. add curry powder, paprika, pepper, onions, garlic and green onion. cook in the slow setting for 6 hours. or about 4 hours over high. if you don’t have a crock pot, you can use the oven at 350F for 3 hours or so.

once the lentils are done, turn the crock pot off.

next, dig for all the vegetable chunks {pepper, onions, garlic and green onion}. take out as many as you can and set aside in a bowl or plate. trust me, it’s worth the time digging for it!

set a food processor or blender up. add vegetable chunks to food processor. also scoop out 1 cup of the lentils from the crock pot and add to processor or blender.

make sure to get some liquid when you scoop out the lentils. if you didn’t, go back to crock pot and scoop out about 1/4 cup of liquid in addition to the 1 cup of lentils you already have.

blend until consistency is smooth. it will look like baby food, but it’s good! add mixture to lentils in crock pot and mix well.

serve with avocados, fresh cilantro and a dash of cayenne pepper.

beef stew, a winter staple and delicious dish

happy new year!!

or

feliz año!! as they say back in my home country ;)

It’s been a GREAT year and here’s to another amazing one. i love starting a new year; you become wiser, more experienced and there’s always a brighter future ahead that you can’t wait to get your hands on. Welcome 2013!!

2012 was a bit bittersweet. it was amazing because my boyfriend of 6 1/2 years and I got married and it was the best day of my entire existence; words cannot describe the day. it was sweet because i got to see my mom after 3 years {she lives in venezuela}. it was sweet because our niece Pearl was born :)

it was bitter because we lost a family member and i was faced with a few health problems, which was hard on me and a bit on my faith. but i never lost sight of my faith and it’s stronger than ever!

to celebrate the start of 2013, i’m going to share one of my favorite winter recipes ever. beef stew. but this time i tweaked my recipe and added christmas ale. christmas ale is a local beer from the city of cleveland, ohio brewed by great lakes brewing company. it’s an amazing beer brewed with cinnamon, nutmeg, honey and other spices.

here’s the how to and down below you’ll find the recipe and directions.

a few of the key ingredients!

IMG_5333

coat beef chunks with all purpose flour before browning.

IMG_5335

cook in a hot pan with some oil until brown. do it in batches so you don’t crowd the pan.

IMG_5336

cook the chopped onion to medium heat for a couple of minutes until caramelized.

IMG_5340

add water, beef stock or chicken stock to hot pan and celery. cook for a few minutes.

IMG_5343

onions ready to go in the crock pot!

IMG_5345

turn crock pot to high and add broth, celery, onions and tomato paste.

IMG_5346

i used a masher for the tomatoes so they weren’t as a whole. you can use a food processor and then add the tomatoes to the crock pot.

IMG_5348

mix well until combined.

IMG_5349

carrots are probably one of my favorite vegetables!!

IMG_5350

add beef, potatoes, the rest of the broth and bay leaves. mix well.

IMG_5354

and here it is!! mmmm.. so good!

IMG_5362

IMG_5364

IMG_5369

IMG_5370

a slow one, but good one!
christmas ale beef stew

ingredients:
2 pounds stewing beef
6 carrots, cut in 2 inch chunks
4 russet or yukon gold potatoes, cut in 3 inch chunks
4 celery stacks, cut 1 1/2 inch chunks
2 ripped tomatoes, cut in 2 inch chunks
1/2 big white onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 bay leaves

seasoning:
1 6 oz. can tomato paste
1 tbsp worcestershire sauce
1 tsp sea salt, and more if needed
1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper
1 1/2 cups homemade low fat/low sodium chicken broth or store bought {beef broth or water works great too!}
1/2 cup {or more} Christmas ale beer or any other beer you have in the fridge
4 tbsp flour
2 tbsp olive oil

serves 8 people {aka leftovers}.

directions:
turn crock pot on {slow cooker} and set to high.

coat beef with flour. i do it in two batches so the beef it’s well covered. do 2 tbsp of flour at a time.

heat skillet to medium heat and add 1 tbsp of olive oil. let it heat up and add beef chunks covered in flour in two batches so it’s easy to manage. brown beef until golden and let it rest in a bowl.

in the same skillet add 2 tbsp of olive oil to cook the onions. cook for 2 minutes stirring occasionally, add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute. put onions and garlic in a bowl and set aside.

add 1 cup chicken broth to same skillet and add celery. cook for 3 minutes and add to crock pot along with tomato paste and tomatoes. mash tomatoes with a potato masher in the crock pot or you can mash them with a food processor.

stir celery, tomato paste and mashed tomatoes until well combined.

add carrots, potatoes, beef, onions, garlic, worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, bay leaves to the crock pot and stir until all ingredients are combined. add 1/2 cup chicken broth and if it’s too dry add an extra 1/4 cup. don’t add more than that since it’s going to cook for a long time and all the ingredients will release water in the process.

cook on high for 5 hours or on low for 7 hours.

add beer 2 hours before the final cooking time. i.e. hour #3 if you cook it on high or hour #5 if you cook it on low. if you can’t, then add beer when you start cooking the beef stew :)

taste and if it needs extra salt, go ahead and season to taste, stir.

serve hot!!

{i made this recipe in a 6-quart crock pot. if you don’t have a slow cooker, you can cook the beef stew in a 350f oven for 3 hours or so.}

here’re some more pictures related to this post! if you follow me on instagram probably saw it already ;)

wedding

photo(25)

photo(24)

photo(23)