2012-09-29



In my house soup recipes just happens. The recipe for this (vegan gluten free) black bean soup can vary, but the taste is always wonderful. It is usually a combination of whatever I have on hand and my mood or season.

I find my crock pot is ideal for making soup. I just throw everything into the crock in the morning, go about my day, and come home to a health giving pot of soup. It really is that easy and there is something nourishing available when you otherwise might start to snack while making dinner. Black Beans and orange vegetables are perfect soup for the crock; the flavors blend beautifully.

You can freeze this soup, too. So, eat some freeze some. I love it when I find a meal in the freezer.

When I thought about this soup, I thought in advance. I soaked a bag of black beans before I went to bed and rinsed them in the morning. ( no big deal right?)  After rinsing, I then added the soaked and rinsed beans to the crock with 1/2 a butternut squash ( cubed) , some peeled and slice yams, chopped tomatoes, fresh garlic, sliced onion, and all kinds of herbs ( parsley, cilantro, basil)  and lots of celery. I think the celery is what really makes it.Sometimes I use carrots instead of the squash, but any sweet yellow vegetable will do.

I let it cook all day ( 4 hours on high, 4 hours on low) or just do 6 hours on high.. 9 hours on low until the beans and veggies are soft.



Crock Pot before Cooking contains uncooked ( but soaked) black beans, butternut squash

yams, celery, fresh garlic, onion, parsley, cilantro, cumin, and Trader Joes' saltless seasoning

" 21 Salute" ( cover veggies with a little  more water or broth than this)

Soup is perfect in the fall. You can eat the soup with some brown rice and a salad and call it a day! Butternut squash is plentiful at farms in our area right now, so I like to find lots of ways to use this health giving vegetable that is full of antioxidants and vitamins. Because of its sweet taste, even kids love it..

This soup is very mild. If you want a little kick add 2 T of chipotle spice while cooking or add a Tablespoon of fire roasted salsa (mild) that I get at Trader Joe's (-which has no salt and is fabulous )- to your bowl upon eating..



Finished Soup; good but mild before addition of salsa

I use a Tablespoon or so of  Trader Joe's Fire Roasted Salt Free Salsa ( mild)  to add to

my soup bowl for a  little kick

I add the salsa to my bowl of soup and that's why I call the soup Black Bean Salsa Soup.I have a thing for black beans; I think I could eat them everyday. They are filling, tasty, and nourishing. Read about the health benefits and versatility of black beans

Ingredients

1 bag dry black beans , soaked overnight and drained

2 cups cubed butternut squash ( peeled)

1 medium yam, peeled and cubed

4 stalks celery, sliced  ( I like organic)

2 large tomatoes, blanched and skin removed and chopped ( or canned chopped tomatoes)

1 medium onion , chopped

4 cloves garlic sliced thick ( or more to taste)

1/2 cup parsley, chopped ( organic)

1/4 cup fresh cilantro , chopped ( organic)

1/2 cup fresh basil , chopped (optional)

1 Tablespoon cumin

2 Tablespoons Trader Joe's salt free seasoning called " 21 Salute"

Throw everything into your crock pot . Cover the contents with water ( about 10-14 cups) or broth or a combination of both. Turn the crock pot onto high and cook for 4 hours. Turn down to low and allow to cook an additional 4 hours. If you are not home, just put on low for 9 hours or put on high for 6 hours.

Tip of the Day:

Do you know how many nutrients your little ones ate today?

If they are eating (GF) crackers, bread, pasta- probably not enough vitamins and antioxidants..

Try making a muffin tin filled with a variety of fresh fruit and cut up veggies and healthy dips!

Let them pick from the colorful fresh food tray. Found this idea and photo on  a blog called Bfit  Bfree

Photo from Bfit  Bfree
Will be shared on the following blog carnivals
Sunday
Every Day Sisters Sharing Sundays; Your Recipe, My Kitchen Seasonal Sundays at The Tablescaper, I Gotta Create. Petite Hermine Sunday Linky Sunny Sunday  Sunday Blog Love; Sunday Linky Party;Sundae Scoop; Seasonal Sundays; Sunday Show Off; It's so Very Cheri;  Sunday Showcase Party; Natashia in Oz Sunday  Seasonal Celebration, Sugar-Free Sunday  Superfoods Sunday,

Monday

My Meatless Mondays ;Mouthwatering Mondays ; Homemaker Mondays ; Midnight Maniac Meatless  ;  Monday Mania ; Melt in Your Mouth Mondays ; Made By You Mondays ; Made With Love Mondays ; Happy Homemaker Mondays ; Make a Food-e Friend Monday ; Menu Mondays ; Mangia Mondays; ; Motivate Me Mondays; ; Made It Monday; Making Your Home Sing Monday; Making Monday Marvelous Day; Making the World Cuter Monday; Amaze Me Mondays; Muffin Monday; Motivated Mondays ;Homestead Barn Hop ; Make Your Own Mondays ; A Marvelous Monday ; Savvy Homemade Monday  Just another Meatless Monday,  Meet Me Monday  Mix it up Monday Must Try Monday  Making you crave Mondays Organizing Junkie's Meal Plan Monday Green Backs' Meatless Monday Veggie Mama's Meatless Monday On the Menu Monday In the Gumbo Monday
Yummy  Inspriations Breakfast   Mealtime Monday   Gluten Free Weekly Menu Jo-Lynnes Weekly Mean Plan

Pin It

Please leave a comment so I know you stopped by. Scroll down to the end of the post and click on comments.

Show more