Red Bean Tortilla Soup

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Eating Chicken Tortilla Soup with red beans and without the chicken is  just as filling & delicious.  It's more likely I'll make this bean version more often.

This recipe is pretty much the same as the Chicken Tortilla Soup recipe.  Only this recipe calls for a couple of cups of  cooked red beans.  Whether you cook the beans yourself or open up the can, it's totally up to you.  I can't call it "vegetarian" because I used chicken stock.  Of course, vegetable stock would work too, I just didn't have any on hand at the time.

Quite honestly, most of the time I'm working with what's on hand rather than planned meals.  Sure, I have a generally idea.  When it comes to grocery shopping, I keep the standard vegetables fresh and keep a variety of legumes on hand.  Lately, I'm only buying meats when I have a planned meal in mind.  Anyhoo, let's get this soup on.

HERE'S ALL IT TAKES

• 1 small yellow onion, chopped
• 1 small red or orange bell pepper, chopped
• 3 celery stalk, chopped
• 2 medium carrots, chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 6 cups chicken broth or vegetable stock
• 1 (14.5 oz.) can diced tomatoes with garlic & onions
• 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes with chipotle peppers
• 1 whole green chili, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
• 8 corn tortillas
• 2 1/2 to 3 cups cooked red beans

In a large soup pot or dutch oven, heat 2 to 3 tablespoons of oil over medium-low heat, add onions, celery, and carrots then cook until vegetables soften, 10 minutes.  Add the garlic, cumin and chili powder and cook for up to 1 minute, stirring constantly.

Add the chicken or vegetable stock, tomatoes with their juices, green chili, cilantro, salt and pepper.  Cut the tortillas into 1/2 inch strips and add to the soup.  Bring the soup to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 25 minutes.  Stir occasionally.

Add the cooked red beans and check the level of salt & pepper.  Allow the red beans to heat through a few minutes.  Then, YOU'RE READY TO CHOW DOWN!

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