Black Bean Soup, Vegetarian - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup diced celery
1/2 cup minced onion
1/4 cup diced green bell pepper
3 tablespoons chopped carrots
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
2 cups vegetable broth
1 cup water
3 (15 ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained
sliced green onion (optional)
corn tortilla strips (to garnish) (optional) or chips (to garnish) (optional)
crema (to garnish) (optional)

Preparation

Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.
Add celery, minced onion, bell pepper, and carrot. Cook 10 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Add garlic and the next 4 ingredients (through black pepper); saute 3 minutes.
Add broth, water, and beans; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes. Cool slightly.
Place half of soup in a blender, and process until smooth. Pour into a bowl. Repeat procedure with remaining soup. Garnish with sliced green onions, if desired.