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This soup is very quick to put together - 20 to 30 minutes total. You can make the dumplings and prepare the garnishes while the soup simmers. I highly recommend taking the time to make the dumplings and add the garnishes… they really make the soup special.

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1 tbsp chili powder
• 2 tsp crushed garlic (or minced)
• 3 cups vegetable broth
• ½ tsp dried oregano
• ¼ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• ½ (15 oz) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained

Dumplings

• 1/3 cup masa harina
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 3 tbsp hot water
• 1 tsp olive oil

Garnishes

• chopped fresh cilantro
• fresh lime juice
• crumbled queso fresco

Directions

Heat oil in your soup pot over medium-high heat. Sauté onion 5-7 minutes or until soft. Add chili powder and garlic, sauté for 30 more seconds. Add broth, spices, pinto beans and tomatoes, bring to a boil, and then cover, lower heat and simmer for 20 minutes.

To make dumplings, combine masa harina and salt. Add hot water and oil, stir until you have a soft, somewhat dry dough. Add more water, if needed, so the dough sticks together. Divide dough into little balls- try to make 24 if possible. The smaller the dumplings, the better. Add dumplings to soup and cook uncovered for 3 minutes until dumplings float. Stir in cilantro and juice. Ladle into bowls and top with queso fresco.

Serves: 4

This is based on a recipe I found online a while ago. I tried to search for it again but wasn’t able to find it so I can’t credit the source of the original.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 small onion, coarsely chopped
• ½ cup coarsely chopped celery
• 1 green bell pepper, coarsely chopped
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 16-oz can diced tomatoes
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tsp (gumbo) filé powder
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
• 1 tsp Tabasco
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ cup water
• 1 ½ cups cooked or canned pinto beans, rinsed if canned
• 4 oz tempeh or shrimp in small pieces
• 8 oz vegetarian / andouille sausage links, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 3 cups cooked brown rice

Directions

Start with the brown rice since it takes up to 40-45 minutes.

In a large pot, heat 1 ½ teaspoons of the oil over medium heat until hot. Add onion, celery, and bell pepper and sauté for 5 minutes, or until the vegetables begin to soften. Add garlic, tomatoes, tomato paste, file powder, parsley, Tabasco sauce, salt, and water. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes, or until the vegetables are soft. Stir in the pinto beans.

Meanwhile, heat the remaining 1 ½ teaspoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add tempeh or shrimp and sausage and cook until browned, about 5 minutes. Then add it to tomato mixture and simmer about 5 minutes. Adjust seasonings and serve over hot cooked rice.

This is my favorite basic, vegetarian, onion soup.

Ingredients

• 2 ½ cups sliced onions
• 2 thyme springs
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 garlic cloves - minced
• 1 tablespoon flour
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• ½ cup white wine

Directions

Caramelize the onions. Melt ½ tablespoon butter over medium-high heat in a heavy saucepan. Add the onions and thyme and sauté until onions are just tender - about 5 minutes. Turn the heat to low and let the onions cook another 20 minutes, or until caramel colored.

Finish the soup. Push the onions to one side and add the other ½ tablespoon butter. Add the garlic and cook for 3 minutes - until the garlic begins to soften. Sprinkle the flour over the onions and garlic; then mix. Pour the vegetable broth and wine into the onion mixture and stir to mix. Let simmer for another 10 minutes, or until onions and garlic are very soft. Eat and enjoy

Variations

With garlic-cheese croutons. Rub four slices of french bread with a garlic clove. Top each piece of bread with a slice of swiss cheese. Broil for 2 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbling and beginning to brown. Place one piece of bread on top of each bowl of soup.

Notes

For a long time I had trouble finding a good ready-made vegetable stock. The best I’ve found comes in aseptic packages . I really like Imagine and Pacific Brands.

Servings: 4