BLACK BEAN SOUP & GRILLED PASTRAMI AND CHEESE SANDWICH

“Soup is cuisine's kindest course. It breathes reassurance; it steams consolation; after a weary day it promotes sociability, as the five o'clock cup of tea or the cocktail hour." - Louis Pullig De Gouy

Black Bean Soup & Grilled Pastrami and Cheese Sandwich

Tis the season for soup. Soup is comforting. Soup is warm. Soup makes you feel full. Soup is all so flavorful. Add a sandwich to the mix, and you have a great meal.

Black Bean Soup

This soup recipe is my take on the Weight Watchers Black Bean Soup. I was introduced to this soup by my Aunt Sakinah back in 2010. When she made the soup, she added smoked sausage. I have made the soup with smoked sausage and with small pieces of seasoned chicken breast. It's a hearty soup, and full of flavor. In my version of the recipe, I only use two cans of black beans, as I don't need that much soup for one person. I usually add the chicken to the soup, but for this recipe it's meatless since I have meat on the sandwich.

Black Bean Soup & Grilled Pastrami and Cheese Sandwich

Soup is always good with a sandwich - especially a grilled cheese sandwich. I am a huge pastrami lover, so the grilled sandwich served with this black bean soup is a grilled pastrami and cheese sandwich. The cheeses are slices of Swiss and Sharp Cheddar. Simple and to the point. The flavors blend wonderfully.

This is a pretty fast and easy recipe to make and it's perfect for lunch or a quick dinner.

View the behind the scenes reel on the August June's Kitchen Instagram page.

The recipe is below.

Black Bean Soup Ingredients

Black Bean Soup Ingredients

• 1 small to medium Chopped Yellow Onion

• (2) 15 ounce cans of Black Beans (Bush's/Publix)

• 1 tablespoon Minced Garlic (Nature's Promise)

• 1 10 ounce can Original Rotel

• 1 1/2 cups Frozen Whole Kernel Corn (Food Lion)

• 1/2 cup Chicken Broth (Swanson's)

• 1 1/2 teaspoon Lawry's Seasoned Salt

• 1 teaspoon Tabitha Brown Sunshine Seasoning

• 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper (McCormick)

• 1/2 teaspoon Onion Powder (Badia)

• 1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder (Badia)

• 1 teaspoon Cumin (Badia)

• 1/16 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper (Trader Joe's) (Optional)

• Sour Cream (Garnish) Optional

• Cilantro (Garnish) Optional

• Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese (Garnish) Optional

Preparation:

1. Chop onion in to large pieces.

2. Add one can of black beans, chopped onion, and minced garlic to food processor.

3. Add black bean mixture to the pot.

4. Add the other can of black beans, Rotel, chicken broth, and frozen corn to pot.

5. Add all seasonings to the pot.

6. Stir and simmer. for 20 minutes.

7. Add soup to bowl and serve with desired garnishes.

Grilled Pastrami and Cheese Sandwich Ingredients

Grilled Pastrami and Cheese Sandwich Ingredients

• Two slices of bread (Sara Lee Honey Wheat Bread)

• 1 tablespoon Salted Butter for pan and buttering bread (Food Lion)

• 4 slices Pastrami (Hillshire Farms)

• 2 slices Sharp Cheddar Cheese (Kraft)

• 1 slice Swiss Cheese (Kraft)

Preparation:

1. Add butter to pan and heat until sizzling.

2. Place one bread slice on plate.

3. Layer bread with pastrami slices, cheddar cheese, and Swiss Cheese.

4. Add second slice of bread to sandwich and spread with butter.

5. Place sandwich in pan and cook until browned on each side.

6. Once done, place on plate and cut in half diagonally.

7. Serve with black bean soup.