Sweet and Spicy "Sausage" Soup

Cayenne

The energy that comes with this soup is the energy of "DARING." The recipe came through just as I was deciding to take action to spread my business enterprise out over a wider audience - which definitely calls for a good dose of daring! I love shamanic cookery.... :) Beware - the soup is quite spicy - and I personally never stop at just one bowl of soup, so I was feeling it!

Sweet and Spicy "Sausage" Soup

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 large links of vegetarian sausage (in my fridge today I have Tofurky brand Sun-dried Tomatoes and Basil flavored veggie sausage - it goes perfectly with this daring soup!) - sliced 

1 onion, diced

1/2 a green bell pepper, diced

3 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped

2 potatoes, cubed

1/2 can diced tomatoes (and their juice)

1 cup vegetable broth

3 cups water

8 leaves of fresh basil (I used purple basil that I grow myself), chopped

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon cumin powder

1/4 teaspoon cumin seeds

1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper (daring!)

1 teaspoon raw sugar

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

Sea salt to taste

...

Heat the olive oil and sauté the sausage, onion, green pepper and garlic until they start to get soft and the room smells yummy. While sautéing, add in the basil, oregano, cumin powder, cumin seeds and cayenne. Sprinkle some sea salt in there too, to bring the flavors together.

Add the tomatoes, potatoes, broth and water. Bring soup to a boil, stir in the sugar for a bit of sweetness to balance out the cayenne, turn the heat down and simmer for 40 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

Add the apple cider vinegar - tangy! - and sea salt to taste.

Ladle it into a bowl and enjoy - if you dare!