Spicy Lentil and Black Bean Soup

Although our weather is just now dipping in to the 80s, I felt it was soup season yesterday. It was rainy and it was a chilly morning. This is a hearty and filling soup that has the perfect amount of spiciness. It tastes even better reheated!

I started with a recipe from Cook like a Champion. The recipe I borrowed was Lentil and Black Bean with Andouille Sausage (see link). It sounded great! There were just a few problems:
1. I don't know what Andouille Sausage is.
2. I don't like celery.
3. I've never seen smoked spices
4. This didn't have the Mexican flare that most of my cooking does.

Growing up in the southern Arizona, my mouth was taught to prefer Mexican food over all else. So, here's my version:
1.5 tblsp Olive Oil
1 pound Spicy Herb Sausage (from my sister's pigs)
3/4 of a large White Onion, chopped
10 Mini Sweet Peppers, chopped
2 heaping tsps Minced Garlic (I buy mine in a jar, if using fresh use 2 cloves)
2 tsp. Paprika
1 can Diced Tomatoes and Habaneros (juice and all)
1 cup Dried Lentils
4 cups Beef Broth 
2 cup water
1 can Black Beans (juice and all)
1 can Sweet Corn (drained)
1/2 cup jarred Green Chilies
Seasoning Salt and Pepper to taste

In large pot or dutch oven, heat olive oil. Brown sausage. Once browned, remove sausage with slotted spoon, leaving juices and grease in pot. Set sausage aside. Add peppers and onions. Sautee until onions become translucent. Add in garlic and paprika, stir for a minute or so, mixing spices in with veggies. 

Dump in tomatoes and habaneros. Add lentils and 3 cups of broth and 2 cup of water. Bring to a boil. Stir occasionally. Add drained corn. Leave on med-high heat (continue periodic stirring) until  lentils are tender - about 20 minutes. Remove from heat.

While lentil mixture cools, add 1/2 of the black beans,  1 cup of broth, and the green chilies to a blender. Pulse a few times. Once pot mixture is no longer hot, put 1/3-1/2 of mixture in to blender. Pulse until mixed but not liquefied. Add blender mix back to pot. Put pot back on heat, add remainder of black beans and sausage. Heat until warm and serve.

I like mine with sour cream and cheese!