Dishin With Denise… Black Bean Chicken Soup With a Kick!

I just made a hot one… for a cold, chilly night! Satisfying and surprising your palate will sense it’s a “Super Soup”…This is my concoction, or rather a unique infusion of our beloved, classic, chicken soup. When combined with a black bean soup it becomes quite the bowl of flavor.  Including fresh herbs, fresh veggies, chicken and black beans. It is also easy on the budget and hard to deny on a cold night!  A truly delicious way to support your immune system during the extra busy shopping season.

Make it in the morning and ladle up for dinner. I use my traditional chicken soup recipe and combine with this easy to prepare black bean soup. This is where I share my improvising skills, taste sensations, and creativity talents to assist the real life busy chef…you!!!  This amazing unique blend will have your family asking for 2nd ladle refills of this fuel. Add this bean packed twist together with the “comfort classical” to your recipe arsenals… and be ready to strike when the cold wind blows!

1 Roasted Rotisserie Chicken (remove skin, carcass and all bones) chop up or shred
2 Vidalia onions diced
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
2 cans (14.5 ounces) of diced tomatoes or 4 ripe fresh tomatoes diced
3 cups of diced carrots
3 cups diced celery
1 small head of escarole (washed, drained and chopped)
2T fresh chopped parsley
1t fresh chopped chives
Pinch of red pepper flakes
Fresh ground pepper and salt to taste
64 ounces plus ~of College Inn Chicken Broth
1 t of Tabasco Green Pepper Sauce ~ careful…taste for desired heat
5-6 cans (15.5 Oz’s) of Black Beans (I use Goya or Trader Joe’s organic black beans, whole and plump. Rinse and drain.

Sautee onion in olive oil (until soft and transparent) in a large pot. Add vegetables and fresh spices and sauté for an additional 3 minutes or until vegetables soften a bit. Add tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes. Add beans and cook for 5 more minutes. Add broth and cook for 25 more minutes. Add spices and pepper sauce. Suggestions for toppings (jalapeno pepper slices, sliced fresh scallions, cilantro, oyster crackers, Chinese crunchies, or extra hot sauce. A chilled glass of wine, some crusty baguette and get that fireplace… Blazing!