1/4teaspooncayenne pepperoptional, use more for a spicier soup
1/2cuplight cream cheeseor any creamy cheese of choice, dairy-free works great too
Salt and pepperto taste
OPTIONAL TOPPINGS:
crushed tortilla chips to garnishor sliced avocado, sour cream, sliced or diced jalapeños, chopped red onion, shredded cheddar, fresh cilantro
Instructions
Start by prepping the vegetables; dice the 1 medium onion and 1 red bell pepper.
Drain and rinse the beans. (15 ounces black beans and 15 ounces red beans)
Wash the 3/4 cup dried red lentils thoroughly under cold running water and set them aside.
For Slow-Cooker/crockpot directions:
Into the slow cooker, add 1 teaspoon olive oil, 1 jalapeno pepper (diced), onions, peppers, 1 cup corn, 3/4 cup salsa , 15 ounces tomato sauce , 1 teaspoon smoked paprika , 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon cumin, 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper3 1/2 cups vegetable broth, and Salt and pepper. Toss everything together.
Cover and cook on HIGH for 4-6 hours or on LOW for 7-8 hours, until vegetables and lentils are cooked through and the soup is thick.
Once done, remove the lid and mix in the 1/2 cup light cream cheese.
Pour the soup into a large serving bowl. Add your favorite toppings like crushed tortilla chips to garnish, and serve warm!
Video
Notes
Serving size: One bowl is about 2 cups
Don't forget to add the cream cheese at the very end
You can use any oil of choice for this tortilla soup
Use your favorite beans. We used black and red beans.
Use any creamy white cheese instead of heavy cream for a creamy thick soup.
Corn: fresh, canned, or frozen corn can be used.
The cayenne pepper is optional if kids will be eating this we suggest you skip it. Add more if you prefer it to be spicier.
To keep this vegetarian-friendly, use vegetable broth. Otherwise, you can use any broth.
If you aren't vegetarian and would like to add some meat to this, try chicken or beef. You can use shredded chicken, or add a full chicken breast and shred it later after it is fully cooked.