Name: Black Bean Soup
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 1 pound dried black beans (about 2 cups), rinsed, soaked in 4 quarts of water overnight or 6 hours, drained -; 1 pound smoked ham shank or hock -; 2 bay leaves -; 5 cups water -; 1/8 teaspoon baking soda -; 1/2 teaspoon salt -; 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil -; 1 large yellow onion, chopped fine (2 cups) -; 1 medium sweet potato, chopped into 1/2-inch pieces (2 cups, chopped) (can substitute 2 large carrots) -; 1 carrot, chopped fine (1/2 cup) -; 1 celery rib, chopped fine (1/2 cup) -; 1 teaspoon salt -; 4 medium garlic cloves, minced -; 1 tablespoon ground cumin -; 2 teaspoons chili powder -; 2 cups chicken stock (add 2 teaspoons of salt if using unsalted stock) -; 1 tablespoon molasses -; 1 red bell pepper, roughly chopped -; 3 to 4 tablespoons lime juice (can substitute lemon juice) -; Salt -; To serve: -; Chopped fresh cilantro -; Sour cream -; Avocado, peeled and chopped -

Recipe information

Cooking:

20 min.

Servings per container:

Source:

More details

Ingredients for - Black Bean Soup

1. 1 pound dried black beans (about 2 cups), rinsed, soaked in 4 quarts of water overnight or 6 hours, drained -

2. 1 pound smoked ham shank or hock -

3. 2 bay leaves -

4. 5 cups water -

5. 1/8 teaspoon baking soda -

6. 1/2 teaspoon salt -

7. 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil -

8. 1 large yellow onion, chopped fine (2 cups) -

9. 1 medium sweet potato, chopped into 1/2-inch pieces (2 cups, chopped) (can substitute 2 large carrots) -

10. 1 carrot, chopped fine (1/2 cup) -

11. 1 celery rib, chopped fine (1/2 cup) -

12. 1 teaspoon salt -

13. 4 medium garlic cloves, minced -

14. 1 tablespoon ground cumin -

15. 2 teaspoons chili powder -

16. 2 cups chicken stock (add 2 teaspoons of salt if using unsalted stock) -

17. 1 tablespoon molasses -

18. 1 red bell pepper, roughly chopped -

19. 3 to 4 tablespoons lime juice (can substitute lemon juice) -

20. Salt -

21. To serve: -

22. Chopped fresh cilantro -

23. Sour cream -

24. Avocado, peeled and chopped -

How to cook deliciously - Black Bean Soup

1. Stage

Cook the beans with the ham hock/shank: Place beans and ham shank or hock in a 4-quart, thick-bottomed pot. Add 5 cups water, bay leaves, salt and baking soda. Bring to a boil. Then, reduce heat to a low simmer. Cover and let cook 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes, until beans are tender. Remove bay leaves. Pressure cooking instructions: If you have a pressure cooker, you can save time by putting the un-soaked dry beans and the ham shank into a pressure cooker. Add 5 cups of water, 2 bay leaves, baking soda, and salt. Cook at high pressure for 20 minutes, and do a natural release of pressure for 10 minutes before completely releasing the pressure. Remove and discard the bay leaves.

2. Stage

Remove the ham shank, cut up ham meat: Remove the ham shank or hock from the pot. Cut the ham meat away from the bone and cut into small, bite-sized pieces. Set aside.

3. Stage

Cook the vegetables, then, add the spices: While the beans are cooking, heat olive oil in a large 6- to 8-quart thick-bottomed pot on medium high until the oil is hot, but not smoking. Add the onions, celery, carrot, sweet potato, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned and softened, 10 to 15 minutes. Reduce heat to medium, add the cumin, chile powder, and garlic. Cook for an additional 2 minutes, stirring constantly.

4. Stage

Add the beans, bean liquid, molasses, and the bell pepper: Once the beans are tender, add the beans, their cooking liquid, chicken stock, molasses, and bell pepper to the pot with the onion mixture. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 20 to 30 minutes.

5. Stage

Purée a third of the soup: Using an immersion blender, purée about a third of the soup. Or remove about 3 cups of the soup to a blender and purée it, return it to the soup.

6. Stage

Garnish and serve: Return the reserved ham pieces to the soup to serve. Add 3 tablespoons of lime juice. Adjust the seasonings to your tastes. If on the sweet side, add a bit more lime juice. Add more salt to taste. Serve with garnishes. Note that the soup may continue to thicken. If you would like it thinner, just add some water to desired consistency.