Today's GOOD Lunch soup was prepared by Amanda Ehrman and inspired by Smitten Kitchen's Black Bean Soup.

Black Bean Soup

The Ingredients:

Makes 8 servings

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 medium-sized red onions, chopped (I used a food processor)
2 medium-sized bell peppers, any color, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
4 teaspoons ground cumin
6 15-oz cans of black beans
3 jalapeño peppers, chopped
5 cups hot water (I just used very hot tap water)
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2-3 teaspoons coarse kosher salt
Ground black pepper to taste
Avocado, shredded cheese, and sour cream to top!

The Method:

• Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add in onions bell peppers and sauté until beginning to brown, about eight minutes.
• Add garlic and cumin.
• Transfer mixture to 6-quart slow cooker, if you have one. I cooked it in a large soup pot and kept the heat to a simmer.
• Add beans and jalapeño peppers.
• Mix everything together and add 5 cups of hot water.
• Cover and cook on high until beans are very tender, about one hour.
• Transfer two cups bean mixture to blender; puree until smooth.
• Return puree to remaining soup in slow cooker.
• Stir in lime juice, salt, and pepper. Adjust seasonings to taste.
• Top with avocado, cheese, and sour cream and enjoy!

The Breakdown:

How did our soup rate in terms of taste, cost, and prep time?