Spicy ham, white bean and corn soup

Spicy from Salsa Verde and green chiles, but not over-the-top hot, this soup will warm you up on a cold fall night. The mashed beans make it thick and satisfying and you get a nice little pop of sweetness from the corn and bell peppers. You can totally make this vegetarian by leaving out the ham and using vegetable broth instead of chicken.

Ingredients (serves 6):

2 cans white kidney beans (cannellini), drained and rinsed

2 teaspoons of canola oil

½ cup chopped onion

1 garlic clove, minced

1 cup diced ham, plus a little bit extra for garnish

1 cup diced bell pepper (whatever colors you have—I had red, orange and yellow), plus a little bit extra for garnish

1 (16 ounce) jar Salsa Verde

1 (4 ounce) can diced green chiles

2 cups chicken broth

1 cup frozen corn, thawed, plus a little bit extra for garnish

Salt to taste

Directions: Mash half of the beans with a fork or in a food processor. Add to the rest of the beans and set aside until needed.

Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until it’s translucent. Add the garlic, ham and bell peppers and cook until everything becomes fragrant, but not brown. Add in the Salsa Verde, green chiles, broth, beans and frozen corn. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Cook for 40-50 minutes, stirring and tasting along the way and adding salt to your liking. Serve in bowls and garnish with your extra bits of ham, corn and peppers as well as your favorite toppings: maybe cheddar cheese, sour cream, avocado and/or parsley. Serve with crackers, corn bread or tortilla chips.