by Deana Gunn & Wona Miniati

This soup is one of my favorite recipes (from our cookbook “Cooking with All Things Trader Joe’s”), smoky with cumin and tangy with lime. It’s a healthy and low-fat meal that can be part of a weekly menu. Canned beans preserve the nutritional value of the beans and make it much easier and convenient to use them in recipes.
If you prefer a smoother soup, you can puree one of the cans of beans (often I make a double batch of this soup and puree 2 of the cans).  You can also let it simmer longer and get very thick for a terrific bean dip or burrito filling!   This soup also freezes well, although we usually never have any left over to freeze!  The “heat” of the soup can be adjusted for kids by using mild salsa or less salsa.

Ingredients:
1 medium yellow onion, peeled and chopped (or use 1 1/2 cups TJ’s Freshly Diced Onion)
1 clove crushed garlic, or 1 cube frozen Crushed Garlic
2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp ground cumin
2 (15-oz) cans black beans (do not drain)
1 cup (half a jar) of your favorite salsa, such as TJ’s Chunky Salsa (mild)
2 Tbsp lime juice (juice of 1 lime)
Plain yogurt or sour cream (optional)

Directions:
1. In a medium pot, add the olive oil and sauté the onions until they are soft and translucent.
2. Add cumin and garlic, sautéing for an additional minute.
3. Pour in black beans (including juices), salsa, and lime juice. Stir to combine and bring to a simmer. Simmer covered for 20 minutes.
4. When serving the soup, top with a dollop of yogurt or sour cream.

Prep Time:  10 minutes
Hands-off Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Makes 4 hearty servings, Calories per serving: 280, Fat per serving: 6.9 g, Protein per serving: 10.9 g (not including sour cream)

About the Authors: Being moms themselves,  Deana Gunn & Wona Miniati have faced the challenge of creating healthy lunches for their kids and come up with some great ideas over the years.  They are the co-authors of the 3 independent Trader Joe’s Cookbooks (Cooking with All Things Trader Joe’s, $29.95 hardcover, the new Trader Joe’s Companion, $13.95 flexibind, and the upcoming The Cooking with Trader Joe’s Cookbook: Dinner’s Done! to be released this October).

Everyone loves Trader Joe’s for their gourmet bargains, unbeatable wine selection, and unique products from around the world, especially parents looking for healthy and affordable fare for their families.  Our recipes feature Trader Joe’s ingredients, such as sauces and other prepped items, in healthy and delicious meals that can be made in minutes.  The books are available nationally at all Barnes & Noble, Borders, local bookstores, or via our website www.cookingwithtraderjoes.com.Tweet