Yummy & Delicious: Brazilian Black Bean Soup

Cooking often seems to be a dreary task. Although it is necessary this chore is not high on your list of enjoyability. The problem is that we often get stuck in a rut by cooking the same meals time and time again. Thus our food palette quickly gets accustomed to our tried and true dishes. In order to restore the excitement to our taste buds we need to wake them up with some exotic flavors and textures. This Brazilian black bean soup will give you that spark to bring picante to your mundane menu.

   All you need for this recipe is:
 (makes about 6 servings)

• 
  
  1 tablespoon canola oil
  
  
• 1/4 pound chorizo sausage, chopped
  
  
• 1/3 pound cooked ham, chopped
  
  
• 1 medium onion, chopped
  
  
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
  
  
• 2 (1 pound) sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
  
  
• 1 large red bell pepper, diced

• 2 (14.5 ounce) cans diced tomatoes with juice
  
  
• 1 small hot green chile pepper, diced
  
  
• 1 1/2 cups water
  
  
• 2 (16 ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained
  
  
• 1 mango - peeled, seeded and diced
  
  
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  
  
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Note: For my vegetarians, omitting the meat from the recipe will not alter the taste of the soup. 

   The directions are even simpler:

1. Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat, and cook the chorizo and ham for 2 to 3 minutes. 
2. Place the onion in the pot, and cook until softened. Stir in garlic, and cook until tender, 
3. Then mix in the sweet potatoes, bell pepper, tomatoes with juice, Chile pepper, and water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 15 minutes, until sweet potatoes are soft.
4. Stir the beans into the pot, and cook uncovered until heated through. Mix in the mango and cilantro, and season with salt.

That's all there is to it...Enjoy!

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