Kidney Bean Soup

Kidney bean soup is a delicious and budget-friendly soup made with kidney beans and tomatoes. It's spiced with aromatic spices, finished with refreshing lime juice, and topped with crispy tortilla chips, sharp cheddar, tangy sour cream, and crunchy bacon.

📝 Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon oil
• 15 slices smoked bacon (5 ounces/150g)
• 1 large onion
• 1/2 red bell pepper
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon coriander (dried)
• 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 2 cups chicken broths (480ml)
• 3 cans kidney beans (with liquid) (14-oz/400ml)
• 1 can crushed tomatoes (14-oz/400ml)
• 2 teaspoons lime juice
• chopped cilantro leaves
• salt and pepper (to taste)
• fried/baked tortilla strips or crushed tortilla chips
• avocado
• sour cream
• shredded sharp cheddar

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Dice the onion, finely chop garlic, cut bell pepper into small cubes, and bacon into 3/4-1 inch cubes (2-2.5 cm).
2. 2Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook for a couple of minutes until it's browned and crispy. Transfer the bacon with a slotted spoon/spider strainer to a plate, leaving the oil/fat in the pot (you should have about 2-3 tablespoons of fat).
3. 3Add the onion and bell pepper, cook for about 4-5 minutes until the onion is soft.
4. 4Add the garlic and all the spices, cook for 30 seconds.
5. 5Add the tomato paste and cook for a minute.
6. 6Add kidney beans with their liquid, crushed tomatoes, and broth to the pot. Bring to a boil then simmer over low heat for 15 minutes.
7. 7Take the pot off the heat. Puree half of the soup with a blender, add it back to the pot (you can also blend the whole soup but I prefer it part creamy part chunky). Season the soup with lime juice, salt, and pepper to taste.
8. 8Assemble: ladle soup into bowls, stir in some chopped cilantro, top with reserved bacon, diced avocado, shredded cheddar, tortilla strips/crushed tortilla chips, and a dollop of sour cream.
9. 9Enjoy!