Vegetarian Black Bean Vegetable Soup

From Recipe Zaar

Here's a hearty soup for these colder evenings. This also has lots of preventative power in the garlic and a great health-building source of protein in the black beans and soymilk. Serve with some whole wheat bread (or other grain) to make it a complete protein meal.

Vegetarian Black Bean Vegetable Soup

2 cups water
4 medium carrot, sliced thin
1.2 cup onions, diced
2 medium bell pepper, diced
8 garlic cloves, chopped
8 cups spinach, raw
1 teaspoon ginger
2 cup black beans, home-cooked, frozen
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon cumin
2 cups soymilk

Put carrots in pot and cover with water (no oil or butter needed). Cover and cook on medium heat until carrots just start turning soft. Add onion and red bell pepper. Cook, uncovered, on low heat for a couple minutes, stirring occasionally. Throw in garlic and spinach. Continue stirring occasionally on low heat until spinach is mostly cooked down. Add ginger.

Remove from heat once spinach is cooked. Strain vegetable mixture into bowl; reserve juice. Place vegetable mixture in microwave to keep warm.

Place black beans and reserved vegetable juice in pot on stove. Cook, covered, on medium heat until black beans are no longer frozen. Add turmeric and cumin; stir and simmer briefly. Add milk, reduce heat, and stir. Mash some of the beans using fork or spoon, if desired. Cover and cook 1 minute.

Return vegetable mixture to bean soup base in pot. Cook uncovered 1 minute longer, stirring occasionally.