Black Bean Soup Mix in a Jar

Black bean soup mix, recipe, and bowl showing final product

The theme for this month's Recipe Redux is "Adding merriment to mixes," or to create a recipe gift in a jar.  Eons ago, I made and gave away a spiced tea mixture in a jar that contained Tang and other ingredients. (Boy, does this date me.)  So the theme this month was for me to come up with something more contemporary.

I love soups in the winter and I've seen a number of recipes for bean soups in a jar. I decided to make a black bean soup where all the seasonings are in a separate plastic bag. The recipient simply needs to add onion, turkey bacon, and a can of no salt added diced tomatoes.

Of course, you have to include the recipe so the person can see what to do with it. I found a few free (as long as you don't sell them) recipe cards with a winter theme on the internet.





Here are a few additional photos:

Black Bean Soup Mix

Wrap it up with a nice bow

Here is the complete instructions and recipe:

Black Bean Soup Mix in a Jar

 

Bean Soup Mix

1-1/2 cups black beans, rinsed, dried and picked through

Seasoning Mix

2 tablespoons dried sweet pepper flakes
1 tablespoon low sodium chicken bouillon granules
1 tablespoon dried minced onion
1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon dried celery flakes
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon ground chipotle pepper (or to taste)
1 bay leaf

Assembly Directions:

Fill glass jar with beans. Combine seasoning ingredients in resealable plastic bag. Place seasoning packet inside jar, on top of bean. Cover. Tie with bow. Attach the recipe for preparation.

 

Attach these instructions to the jar:

Black Bean Soup

1 jar Black Bean Soup Mix in a jar (with seasoning packet)

6 cups water

8 slices lower sodium turkey bacon, diced

1 large sweet onion, peeled and diced
1 (14.5 ounce) can no salt added diced tomatoes
1/2 medium avocado, peeled and sliced into 6 thin slices (for garnish)
2 tablespoons white cheese, such as Mexican Queso or feta (for garnish)
Fresh cilantro leaves (for garnish)

 Place beans in large bowl and add enough water to cover beans by one inch. Let soak overnight. Drain beans and place in Dutch oven. Add 6 cups water, cover, and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer about one hour, or until beans are almost tender. Set aside.

Cook turkey bacon in large frying pan until crisp. Remove bacon from pan. Add onion to skillet and cook over medium heat until soft, about 6 minutes.  Add onion, bacon, and canned tomatoes to beans in Dutch oven. Stir in seasoning packet. Bring to a boil. Cover, lower heat, and simmer 30 minutes, or until beans are tender and soup thickens. Remove bay leaf.  Divide soup into 6 bowls. Top each serving with a slice of avocado, a teaspoon of crumbled cheese and cilantro sprig.  

 

 Makes 6 servings (about 1-1/2 cups each).

Nutrition Information per Serving:

279 calories, 7 g total fat, 2 g saturated fat, 22 mg cholesterol, 10 g dietary fiber, 16 g protein, and 471 mg sodium. One serving of this low cost recipe provides an excellent source of fiber, protein, folate and thiamine and a good source of vitamin C and calcium.

 

Click here to download and print a copy of this recipe.

Be sure to check out these other gifts in a jar, just in time for the holidays.