Black Bean Soup with Avocado Salsa

I just want to say I LOVE black beans, so if you're with me this soup is just for you. Jake looked at me like I was crazy as I was putting this together but the salsa and some tortilla chips broken up it made for a great pairing. And really if you cut back the water in the soup you could make this a side dish.

Black Bean Soup with Avocado Salsa 

• 1 Tbs olive oil 
• 1 Cup onion, chopped 
• 1.5 Tsp cumin 
• 7 Cups water 
• 1lb Black beans, dried 
• Hamhock 
• 6 cloves garlic, minced 
• 2 Bay leaves 
• Salt 
• 2 Tbs lime juice 

Combine all and cook until beans are tender. I used a pressure cooker and cooked it for 25 minutes. 

Avocado Salsa 

• 1 Avocado, chunked 
• 2 large tomatoes, diced 
• 1/3 Cup red onion 
• 1/4 Cup cilantro 
• 1 Jalapeno, diced 
• 2 Tbs lime juice
• Salt 

Combine all together. 

I added the salsa to the soup and it mixed in and made it creamy. Jake added crushed up tortilla chips to his. Make these meals your own and do different things. Jake says this meal was a fiesta in his mouth and now it means siesta. I hope to see you all tomorrow for my favorite, pasta e fagiole.