Black Bean Soup Like Panera Bread Co.

Total Time: 2 hrs 10 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 2 hrs

Ingredients

• 1 lb dried black beans
• water
• 2 teaspoons cumin
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 lime, juiced
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 2 celery ribs, minced
• 1 large carrot, minced
• 1/2 large onion, minced
• 1 small sweet red pepper, minced
• 1 jalapeno pepper, minced
• 2 cups vegetable broth
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch

Recipe

• 1 soak black beans overnight or for at least eight hours.
• 2 rinse beans thoroughly and place in dutch oven. cover with water. bring beans just to a boil and then reduce heat and simmer. continue to add water as needed to keep the water level just above the beans. simmer until beans are tender. about 90 minutes.
• 3 when beans are tender, add the lime juice, cumin and garlic powder.
• 4 sauté all minced vegetables in vegetable oil until barely tender. cover vegetables with vegetable broth and simmer until vegetables are very tender.
• 5 place vegetables with broth and 1/3 of black beans into a blender. blend very well until the mixture is very smooth.
• 6 pour vegetable/bean puree back into bean mixture and if necessary, add a more vegetable broth if mixture seems too thick.
• 7 if the soup is not to your thickness preference, mix cornstarch with equal parts cold water and mix with a spoon until well incorporated. pour cornstarch/water mixture into bean soup, while simmering until the soup is the consistency you like.
• 8 top with regular or vegan sour cream, for a special touch and enjoy! best served with a delicious grilled cheese sandwich (whole wheat and havarti).