Black Bean & Sausage Soup

 

Slow cookers, crock pots make the best soups!  Just throw in a bunch of ingredients turn crock pot on high for about 4 hours.  This soup is now one of my favorites, it is very tasty and the breakfast sausage spices do not over power the other ingredients, they compliment them.

I usually add a half cup brown or white rice at the end and turn the slow cooker crock pot on low for about half an hour.  A great add in is pearl barley too, it’s not just for the old standard beef barley soup.  Usually pearl barley takes a little longer to cook, it can be added at the beginning with the other ingredients.

Black Bean & Sausage Soup

1 pound ground natural pork breakfast sausage, browned and drain fat (substitution: turkey sausage)

1 can low sodium or no salt added black beans (approx. 15 ounces)

1 can low sodium or no salt added diced tomatoes (approx. 15 ounces)

1 can low sodium beef or chicken broth (approx. 15 ounces)

1 small green bell pepper diced

1 small sweet red pepper diced

1 medium size onion diced

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

2 teaspoons minced garlic (packed in jar with water or olive oil)

1 or 2 pinches of cayenne red pepper flakes (optional)

1/2 cup dry uncooked brown minute rice (to throw in after soup is done)

salt & pepper to taste

I use a 3 quart slow cooker for this soup

Throw everything in the crock pot slow cooker, except the brown minute rice

Stir everything to incorporate all ingredients evenly

Cook for about 4 hours on high

After 4 hours turn on low and add the brown minute rice cook for another half hour

Turn off slow cooker and serve!