"TRADITIONAL BLACK BEAN SOUP"

From Gourmet Meals in Minutes

1/4 pound onion, diced
2 tablespoons garlic, minced
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon cumin, ground
1 lemon, thickly sliced
1 ounce sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
1 teaspoon jalapenos, minced
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
3 pounds canned black beans, drained and rinsed
2 quarts vegetable broth
1 1/2 tablespoons sherry vinegar

In a 3-quart pot, saute the onions and garlic in the oil until translucent.  Add the ground cumin and continue to saute until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Add the lemon slices, tomatoes, jalapenos, oregano, salt, beans, and vegetable broth.  Simmer for 15 minutes.

Remove and discard the lemon slices.  Use a handheld blender, or a food processor or a countertop blender, to partially puree 3 cups of the soup (it should be thick and chunky), and add it back to the pot.  Cook for an additional 10 minutes.

Finish the soup by adding the vinegar.  YIELD:  2 quarts