Spicy Black Bean Soup w/ Basil infused Sour Cream

Earlier this week I made a slow-cooked turkey breast in the crock pot with carrots, onion, celery and apples as the aromatics. Once we had eaten all the meat over a couple dinners, I used the drippings along with the bones and aromatics and added water to make a nice, rich turkey stock. I go through stock very quickly as it is my secret to adding lots of flavor to soups and sauces and cutting some fat out of cream sauces but I hate how much it costs in the store.Once the stock was done, I began to think of how I could use it in a cost effective way to stretch our groceries. This recipe was the result. It is a very cheap, low fat, filling dinner which is both easy and quick. You could even throw it in a crock pot and let it cook itself for you all day and then just make up the rice when you are ready to eat.

1. cook 1 package of yellow rice (I prefer Vigo saffron rice)
2. sautee: 1 onion, 1 small red pepper & 2 carrots in EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) til tender
3. add in one can of fire-roasted, diced tomatoes and 2 cans of black beans that have been drained and rinsed
4. season well with salt, pepper, garlic salt, red pepper flake, chili powder and a small dash of Italian seasoning
5. add 1 quart of turkey stock (1 box of chicken stock would also work well) and simmer for about 10mins
6. season 8oz light sour cream with salt, pepper, and about 2tbsp fresh basil finely chopped

Serve soup over the rice and add a dollop of the basil sour cream on top.

The soup by itself is very warm and spicy so the basil sour cream adds a nice cooling and fresh effect. If you don’t grow your own basil, it can be very expensive to buy so omitting it is just fine. Other options you could try with this soup are:

• adding some shredded chicken, omitting the basil and adding shredded-sharp cheddar and chopped scallions to the top
• adding some sweet, yellow corn and a touch of cream to mellow it out and omit the sour cream
• omit the rice and serve it over crumbled corn bread

Leave me a comment and tell me what you think…especially if you try it!!