Mexican White Bean Soup-Crockpot Version

Makes: 6 servings

ingredients

• 6
  cups water
• 8
  ounces dried navy beans ( 1 1/4 cups)
  
  
• 1
  large onion, chopped (1 cup)
• 2
  stalks celery, sliced (1 cup)
• 2
  medium carrots, sliced (1 cup)
• 3
  cloves garlic, minced (3 tsp of minced garlic in the jar)
• 1
  tablespoon vegetable oil
  
  
• 2
  teaspoons ground cumin
• 1/8 - 1/4
  teaspoon cayenne pepper flakes
• 3
  teaspoons chicken bouillon mixed with 3 cups water
  
  
  
  Right before you serve the soup, add:
• 1
  cup salsa verde or canned tomatillos if that's what you have on hand
  
  
• Topping:
  Dairy sour cream 
  1/4   cup chopped cilantro
  
  
  
  Optional:
  1 orange
• 
  

directions

1.Soak beans overnight in the 6 cups of water. Discard water and rinse beans.

OR

Rinse beans. In a 4- to 5 quart Dutch oven combine beans and 6 cups water. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, for 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Cover and let stand 1 hour. Drain off the water and rinse beans.

2.Add all ingredients, including the 3 cups of water, into a crockpot and cook until beans are tender, approx 8 hours.

3.Scoop about half the soup into a blender and blend slightly. (You can also use a fork or potato masher and just mash the soup until it's the thickness you like.)  Return to crock. Add salsa verde. Top with chopped cilantro and sour cream. 

Optional:

Finely shred 1 teaspoon peel from orange; then juice the orange. Stir in both orange juice and peel.

Makes 6 servings.