Savory Black Bean Soup

My mom used to make these really delicious black beans when I was growing up and she would top them with avocado slices...mouth watering. The salty flavor of the beans and the creamy sweetness of the ripe avocado was the perfect match. There are lots of variations that you can do with this recipe - just have fun with it! :) Whether you have 30 mins to make a meal because you're starving after leaving work wayyy to late and you just want to stuff your face or you have a couple hours to make everything from scratch and enjoy playing with the ingredients, if the taste is there then it's all that matters.

Ingredients:

1/8 cup finely chopped white onion
1/2-1 tablespoon olive oil
15 1/4 oz (1 Can) Black Beans
1/2 cup Italian Style diced tomatoes (including the juice in the can)
1 tablespoon  Creole Seasoning
1 tsp Salt

1 Chicken Breast (4 oz)
1 tablespoon olive oil
5 Butter sprays per side (or 1 tablespoon)
2 teaspoons Creole Seasoning
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons cooking sherry (optional)

Note: My favorite rule about cooking - layer every component with flavor. That means spice up everything you're cooking! Salt, pepper, paprika, cinnamon, nutmeg, etc...combine it and integrate it in all the elements of your dish.

Saute the chopped onion in the olive oil until lightly browned (about a minute on medium heat). Add the tomatoes and the black beans. Quick stir. Add the creole seasoning and the salt. Let simmer for about 2 minutes on medium heat. Turn down to low until the chicken is ready to add. If there was not a lot of liquid with the tomatoes you can add 1/3 cup water or chicken broth so that it doesn't dry out too quickly.

Season one side of the chicken with both the creole seasoning and salt. Heat the olive oil and when evenly hot, place the chicken spice side down. Season top side similar to the bottom. Cook for about 4 minutes (until you can see the color of the chicken change and creep up the edges). Spray a couple times with the butter spray. Flip over. Chicken should have browned and formed a slight crust. I like to remove the chicken a few minutes before it's completely cooked through and cut it into small pieces. I place it back in the pan and finish cooking it all they way through. (this would be the best time to add the sherry)

Add the chicken to the black beans and stir to combine.

Optional Toppings:
Avocado
Shredded Mozarella

Variations
Saute 1/4 cup chopped turkey bacon with the onion
Saute the chicken with 1/3 cup chopped zucchini
Finely dice 1/8 of a cup of your favorite chili pepper and add with the black beans and tomatoes
Substitute chicken with your favorite chorizo (cook the chorizo with the onion and follow the same steps above)

Welcome!

Cooking accidentally became my most treasured past time over the last year. You need food to live - but I think you need home cooked meals to feed your soul.

Welcome to my world  of savory creations, inspired by my every day life!