South Beach Diet Black Bean Soup (Phase I Friendly)

This is a quick and flavorful adaptation of the general recipe in the South Beach Supercharged book. It's warm and homey and quite filling, plus it's delicious!

• Ready In: 17 mins
• Serves: 4-6

Ingredients

• 1  teaspoon olive oil
• 1  small onion, chopped
• 1  garlic clove, chopped
• 1⁄2 cup green pepper, chopped
• 1⁄2 teaspoon  sazon goya (one packet)
• 1  teaspoon dried oregano or 1  teaspoon fresh oregano
• 2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
• 2  cups chicken broth
• 1  tablespoon cilantro, chopped plus additional (to garnish)
• 1⁄2 cup fresh tomato, chopped (Roma works best)

Directions

1. In a medium sauce pan, sauté onion, garlic and green pepper in olive oil until they begin to soften (about 5-7 minutes).
2. Add the rest of the ingredients (except the tomatoes) and bring to a rolling boil.
3. Reduce heat and simmer 5-7 minutes longer.
4. Remove about half of the mixture and place in a blender and puree, returned pureed soup to the pot (or if you have an immersion blender, use it in the pot for the entire batch).
5. Serve hot with chopped tomatoes and a few more sprigs of cilantro.