Mexican Soup

I wanted to find a use for some dried chilis I bought awhile ago, so I made some Mexican soup.

Ingredients:

• 3 to 4 tablespoons fresh chili paste (from 2 or 3 whole mild dried chilis (or 2 teaspoons chili paste)
• 1 teaspoon canola oil
• 1 large onion, diced (about 1 cup)
• 2 Italian sausage links (the sweet ones, from Costco)
  (or 8 ounces of cooked chicken or hamburger)
• 2 cans or ~32 ounces chicken broth
• 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 can chick peas, rinsed and drained
• 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained (or 14.5 ounce can tomato sauce)
• 1/2 cup frozen whole kernel corn (or 1 can creamed or regular corn)
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste -- add if not using tomato sauce
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 2 tablespoons lime juice (or lemon)

Instructions:

1. Cut off the top of the dried chilis, empty out the seeds
2. Toast chilis for a minute or so in toaster over or air fryer (or microwave for 30 seconds)
3. To soften chilis, cover them with boiling water for 10 minutes
   (or cover with water and microwave on high 5 to 10 minutes) 
4. Puree chilis in mini food processor with a clove of garlic.
5. Sauté onions and sausage in the canola oil in a dutch oven or large pan. 
   (If you want to simmer soup for 45 minutes and go for a jog, you can cook the onions and sausages in the soup.)
6. Add broth, beans, corn, tomatoes, and cumin. Add 3 or 4 tablespoons chili paste.
7. Heat to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. 
8. If sausage is cooked, heat soup for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
   (Or simmer soup on low for 45 minutes. Remove the sausage links, slice into rings, and cut rings into small chunks. Drop back in soup.)
9.  Stir in the lime juice.  Sprinkle with cilantro if you have it. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
10. Serve sprinkled with shredded cheese, possibly topped with crushed tortilla chips or strips, if desired.

Carole's Notes:

We liked this! I will add a better picture the next time I make this.

Th echili paste recips is adapted from  http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2015/01/chili-puree-replace-chili-powder-recipe.html and the soup recipe is adapted from https://www.campbells.com/kitchen/recipes/mexican-tortilla-soup/