Bean Soup With Sausage And More - Southwest Flavors - Nutritious

Total Time: 3 hrs Preparation Time: 1 hr Cook Time: 2 hrs

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups dried pinto beans
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 1/2 lb italian sausage (hot or sweet, about 2 links)
• 3 slices bacon (or skip the bacon and use an extra sausage link)
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 cup chicken stock (homemade, strong, preferred, but you can substitute one 15-oz. can chicken broth)
• 6 1/2 cups water
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• chili pepper (3 teaspoons hot, canned hatch chilies, or 1 teaspoon fresh jalapeno pepper, finely diced)
• 1/2 cup bell pepper, diced (red or green)
• 2 medium carrots, 1/3-inch slices
• 3 -4 celery ribs, chopped
• 1/3 lb red potatoes, chopped into 3/4-inch chunks (about 3 red "new" potatoes)
• 4 tablespoons fresh cilantro
• grated cheese (monterey jack, cheddar or mexican)
• chile
• cilantro

Recipe

• 1 quick soak method for beans: check beans for debris and rinse. place beans in large pot and add enough water to cover by 2 inches. bring to boil. boil for 2 minutes; remove from heat and allow to rest, covered, for 1 hour.
• 2 while the beans are soaking, cook the sausage and bacon in oil. remove from pan and saute onion in drippings until medium brown. drain well.
• 3 drain beans, rinse and put into sausage pot. add stock and water, salt, pepper, garlic.
• 4 bring to boil and reduce to simmer. cook for total of 1-3/4 to 2 hours, partially covered.
• 5 take a break. this is a very forgiving recipe!
• 6 for the chilies, crank them up or down to your taste. i prefer to make the soup very slightly spicy hot and serve more chilies on the side for guests to garnish to taste.
• 7 add drained onions and remaining veggie ingredients as you peel, chop and dice. cut sausage into 1/2" slices and coarsely crumble bacon. add sometime along the way. add the potatoes and cilantro last.
• 8 taste, especially for salt.
• 9 if you want the broth thinner, add a little stock. or if you want to thicken it, mash some of the beans.
• 10 serve with cheese, hot chilies and cilantro as garnishes. you might want to bring out the saltshaker for those who like a lot of salt. good with cornbread or warm buttered tortillas.