Panera Copy Cat Black Bean Soup

I absolutely love Panera, and their black bean soup is one of my favorites.  This recipe comes very close to theirs; it's easy to make and completely delicious.  Serve it with some crusty bread and a green salad for a nice fall dinner.

Ingredients:

  • 1 Medium Onion, small dice
  • 2 Cloves of Garlic, minced
  • 2 stalks of Celery, finely chopped
  • ¼ Red Bell Pepper, chopped
  • 1 Tbsp Olive Oil
  • 2 Cups Chicken Broth (more or less as needed)*
  • 2 Cans Black Beans (15 oz), rinsed
  • 1 tsp Ground Cumin
  • ½ tsp Red Pepper Flakes
  • ½ tsp Salt
  • about 1 tsp Lemon Juice (optional)

*I really love Superior Touch's No Chicken Base.  We have it at the store and I use it all the time when making rice or soups.  It's also much more economical than buying canned or boxed broth, and it's vegetarian too!

Read the entire recipe at teacher-chef.com