Signature Soulful Soup Recipes

Everyone who celebrates Kwanzaa knows that there's no such thing as a standard holiday menu: Since the celebration of African American culture was established 55 years ago, Black families and communities around the country have developed all sorts of unique traditions and dishes. For Washington, DC, chef and Cutthroat Kitchen winner Huda Mu'min, the holiday meal often involves shrimp and grits and a salmon dish, but whatever she plans, this hearty soup is a must-have. It's a family favorite that's full of ingredients with roots in Black culture, including collard greens and black-eyed peas. "This dish is the essence of what Kwanzaa stands for," Huda says. "It's like a hug in a bowl!"

Provided by Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 40m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

• Ingredients

This soup was created on a windy, stormy fall evening, when all I wanted to do was come home from work and make something satisfying yet quick and easy. It's "soulful" because you don't have to hurt a soul to prepare it; it's quite vegetarian-friendly. Of course, the ingredients can be modified to accommodate carnivores - use real bacon instead of bacon bits, or beef broth instead of vegetable broth. For less sodium, you can prepare your own broth, or use just water. The spiciness can also be adjusted to individual tastes, but I like it just like this. Don't be afraid of the amount of Tabasco sauce here; you're using Tabasco's new chipotle variety - kind of like a spicy steak sauce that can be used as a condiment. I like to serve this with saltine crackers, or garlic bread (with or without ooey, gooey cheese!). One other note: don't add salt to beans while they're cooking. It can interfere with the cooking process and make them take longer to finish. Always add salt to beans after they're tender.

Provided by EdsGirlAngie

Categories     Lentil

Time 1h10m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 15

• Ingredients

Nutrition Facts : Calories 278.9, Fat 1, SaturatedFat 0.1, Sodium 637.7, Carbohydrate 48.7, Fiber 23.1, Sugar 3.4, Protein 19.4