Vegetarian Lentil Tortilla Soup

• 1 cupdiced onion
• 1 tspavocado oil — or olive oil
• 1bell pepper — diced
• 1jalapeno pepper — diced
• 2½ cupsvegetable broth — or chicken broth
• 15 ozcanned tomato sauce — or crushed tomatoes
• ½ cupmild salsa verde — or medium salsa verde or your favorite salsa
• 1 tbsptomato paste
• 15 ozblack beans — canned, drained, rinsed
• 15 ozpinto beans — canned, drained, rinsed
• 1 cupfresh corn — or canned corn or frozen corn
• ¾ cupdried red lentils
• ½ tspchili powder
• ½ tspgarlic powder
• ½ tspcumin
• ¼ tspcayenne pepper
• ¼–½ cupheavy cream — optional
• —salt and pepper — to taste

Pile on the toppings!

• —crushed tortilla chips
• —shredded cheddar — or mex-blend cheese
• —jalapeños — sliced or diced
• —red onion — chopped
• —pico de gallo
• —sliced avocado
• —fresh cilantro
• —sour cream — or greek yogurt