Sticking with the Mexican theme, I made the following soup for lunch this week. It was based on a pre-made soup I had bought in the supermarket the previous week. A soup which had sounded great and smelt great but tasted disappointingly vinegary. Knew it had promise though so set out to make my own version.
Attempt number one was nothing less than disasterous. I added rice to the beans and stock then was far too liberal with the cayenne resulting in a sinus-destroying gloop. Attempt number two was a total success though and has been feeding us at lunch times most days this week.
This is my entry for this month’s No Croutons Required event and as per Holler’s request, I would also like to offer a suggestion for an accompaniment. A bowl of this served with a cheese and spring onion quesadilla is a perfect lunch. It’s easy enough to make for one or two but special enough for company.
Chilli Bean Soup
(serves 6 for lunch)
Olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 celery stick, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
2 peppers – 1 red, 1 green – chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 green chilli, chopped
2 tspn coriander powder
2 tspn cumin
1 tpsn cinnamon
Pinch of Cayenne pepper
400g tin kidney beans
200g chickpeas
2 tins chopped tomatoes
1 tblspn tomato puree
600ml stock
Fresh coriander
- Gently fry the onion in a splash of olive oil until just beginning to soften.
- Add the carrot, celery and peppers and cook for another 10 minutes.
- Add the garlic and chilli and cook for another minute before adding the spices and stirring well to coat all the vegetables.
- Add the beans, tomatoes, tomato puree and stock. Bring to the boil, reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Serve with fresh coriander and cheese and spring onion quesadillas.
Quesadillas
Cheddar cheese, grated finely
Spring onion, chopped
Coriander, chopped (optional)
1 flour tortilla per person
A teeny bit of olive oil
- Heat an olive oil smeared non-stick frying pan over a medium high heat.
- Sprinkle cheese, spring onion and coriander on one half of a tortilla and fold.
- Cook folded tortilla for a couple of minutes on each side until cheese is melting and outsides of tortillas are golden.
Lovely soup Wendy. Also interesting to hear about the genesis of your recipe. Love the idea of the quesadillas as well.
I am not surprised that the home made version is superior to the one off the shelf! Sounds lovely and the idea of serving with quesadillas is inspired
Just found your blog and enjoyed reading a little about your life and times. For years when I was younger I wanted to open a modern and discerning soup kitchen eatery. Soup feeds the soul and spirit and this week it’s sorrel and nettle soups that have been feeding ours, the ingredients being available at the bottom of the garden. Will be blogging the recipes soon along with other herb specials if you’re interested. Regards F
Kathryn – Thank you. 🙂
Johanna – The quesadillas really make the lunch, must say.
Fay – I was off soup for a few months recently. Have got over that, thank goodness. It really is an uplifting meal. Shall be checking out your herb recipes. Love sorrel and have plenty of nettles at the bottom of my garden too.
Looks great and you are right it would be so delcious with Quesadillas. I would really enjoy this meal, thanks for submitting it Wendy 🙂
What a lovely recipe! And it could be nice with a guacamole and tortilla chips for dipping too? Yum.
Holler – Glad you like it. 🙂
Beverly – I thought about that too! Suspect it would be great. 🙂
Sounds yummy! Totally along the lines of what we’re into, and sorely miss being able to find everywhere (in California)!
What a fantastic creation. Thanks for participating this month.
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I love homemade chili… definitely a comfort food for me!