Spicy Black Bean Soup

Everyone should add this soup to their freezer cooking lists.  Not only is it tasty, but it's cheap and easy to make.  After a little prep you can toss this in the crockpot and let it cook while you make all your other freezer meals.

Adapted from: Professional Cooking
Difficulty: Easy
Category: Heat and Eat
Recipe Column: AO 

Serves: 24

2 lbs dry black beans
3 tbsp olive oil
8 oz onions, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 oz jalepeno, minced
4 tbsp chili powder
1.5 tsp cumin
1.5 tsp coriander
1 bay leaf
5 quarts vegetable stock or water or a little less
16 oz canned diced tomatoes, undrained
hot sauce, to taste
salt, to taste

1. Place the beans in a large container and cover with a couple inches of water.  Stir in a tablespoon or so of salt.  Let the beans soak at room temperature overnight.
2. Drain and rinse the beans thoroughly.  Place them in the crockpot. 
3. Heat the olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat.  Add the onions, garlic and jalepeno.  Cook, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are tender and translucent.
4. Add the chili powder, cumin and coriander and cook for one minute.
5. Scrape the contents of the pan into the crockpot with the beans.  Pour some of the vegetable stock into the frying pan and stir to scrape up all the leftover bits of vegetables and spices.  Pour into the crockpot.
6. Add the rest of the vegetable stock to the crockpot along with the bay leaf.  I wasn't able to fit all of the liquid in the crockpot and even then I think the soup could use a little less liquid.  You could probably leave out about 2 to 3 cups.
7. Cover and let simmer until the beans are tender.
8. Add the tomatoes and salt and hot sauce to taste.  I keep the soup on the mild side for the benefit of my kids.  Then I put hot sauce on the table so everyone can adjust the spice level to their personal taste.

To freeze:

Properly cool the soup, place in containers and freeze.

To serve:

Thaw the soup in the refrigerator.  Reheat on the stove or in the microwave and serve with toppings of your choice. Some suggestions:

• avocados
• diced fresh tomatoes
• sour cream
• sliced green onions
• diced red onion
• diced bells peppers
• hot sauce

Our preference is avocados, finely diced red peppers, hot sauce and sour cream.