Italian Style Black Bean Soup

 

This soup is easy and delicious and makes just enough for one or two people plus leftovers for another meal.  Not too much that you end up getting sick of eating it, but also it may not be enough that you end up wanting to make more.

 

Italian Style Black Bean Soup 

 

½ cup dry black beans, rinsed and checked

2 Tbs. finely chopped onion

1 carrot finely chopped

½ lb. Italian-style sausage, browned and drained

1 15oz can Italian-style diced tomatoes

1 heaping tsp. minced garlic

½ tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. dried crushed basil

1/3 cup frozen chopped spinach

Salt and pepper to taste

 

Soak beans overnight in cold water.  Drain and place in a small slow cooker.  Cover with warm water and cook on high for 4 hours stirring occasionally and adding water if needed.  Brown sausage with onion and carrot, drain away any fat.  Add to beans along with tomatoes, garlic, garlic powder and basil.  Add one tomato can full of water to the soup, stir to combine all ingredients.  Cook one more hour until beans are tender.  Stir in chopped frozen spinach and serve.

 

This soup goes together wonderfully with a big garden salad and some freshly baked cornbread.  It freezes nicely too.