Black Bean Soup with Fruit Salsa
Cooking for 2
Flavorful and filling, Michaela Rosenthal's hearty soup is laced with a hint of lime and has a zesty Southwest flair. “It's really a meal in itself,” says the Woodland Hills, California cook. Fresh fruit salsa makes an unusual but perfect topping!
SERVINGS: 3
CATEGORY: Appetizer

METHOD: Other stovetop
TIME: Prep: 20 min. Cook: 20 min.
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup diced seeded peeled cucumber
- 1/4 cup diced peeled mango
- 1/4 cup diced fresh pineapple
- 2 tablespoons chopped sweet onion
- 4-1/2 teaspoons lime juice
- 1-1/2 teaspoons grated lime peel
- 1-1/2 teaspoons minced fresh cilantro
- 1/4 teaspoon chopped seeded jalapeno pepper
- SOUP:
- 3 bacon strips, diced
- 3/4 cup chopped red onion
- 1 Anaheim pepper, seeded and chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
- 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
- 4 teaspoons lime juice
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
Directions:
For salsa, combine the first eight ingredients in a small bowl; set aside. In a saucepan, saute bacon and onion until bacon is crisp and onion is tender. Add Anaheim pepper and garlic; saute for 2 minutes. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes.
Cool slightly. Puree half of the soup in a blender; return to the pan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer for 5 minutes. Serve with fruit salsa. Yield: 3 cups.