Today I tried something new…I prepared a Meatless Monday Meal: Southwest Vegetable Soup!

Southwest Vegetable Soup Recipe

Did you know that going meatless, even one day a week, is said to improve your family’s health. Apparently, cutting one meat-filled meal a week has proven to limit risk of cancer, heart disease, diabetes and obesity.

The Meatless Monday Movement has identified Monday as the best day to get a fresh start and go meatless (which explains the name of the movement). While I do love meat, the idea of going meatless for at least a day is a challenge I can accept.

So after heading on over to BJ’s (and another local grocery store for the few items I forgot to buy) I prepared the Southwest Vegetable Soup Recipe I found on BJ’s Blog. They’ve actually provided Meatless Monday recipes like potato and eggplant moussaka and fresh pineapple granitas.

*I made some modifications to the Southwest Vegetable Soup Recipe but you can always refer to the original one posted on the BJ’s blog.

Ingredients

  • 1 Tbsp. Olive Oil
  • 1 cup of Berkley & Jensen Pepper & Onion Mix
  • 2 (14.5 oz.) cans Diced Tomatoes OR 3 (8 oz.) cans of tomato sauce
  • 6 oz. of cooking wine
  • 6 cups water
  • 1 & 1/2 packets of McCormick Taco Seasoning
  • Berkley & Jensen Mixed Vegetables or 2 can of Mixed Vegetables
  • 4 Gardein Black Bean Burgers, defrosted, chopped (if you do eat meat, you can use meat instead)

Optional:

  • 1/2 box of Rotelli pasta
  • 1 Vegetable bouillon cube
  • R.W. Garcia Organic Tortilla Chips
  • Wholly Guacamole

Directions

  • Heat olive oil in 6 qt. pot over medium-high heat. Add pepper and onion mix and sauté, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 5 minutes.
  • Add undrained tomatoes or tomato sauce, water, cooking wine, taco seasoning and bouillon cubes (if using)
  • Cover pot and bring to a boil.
  • Stir in pasta, mixed vegetables and chopped black bean burgers. Replace cover.
  • Bring pot to a boil again and cook until pasta and vegetables are tender, about 10 to 12 minutes.
  • Serve immediately with  Tortilla Chips and Guacamole on the side.

I loved the way this meal turned out and I will definitely be making this Southwest Vegetable Soup Recipe again.  If you make it, let me know how it turns out .

Disclosure: I was provided with a BJ’s Wholesale Club gift card in order to create this Southwest Vegetable Soup Recipe. ALL opinions and additions I did to the recipe are my own.