Georges At The Cove Black Bean Soup Recipes

BLACK BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Cover beans with cold water by 3 inches in a bowl and soak at room temperature at least 8 hours, or quick-soak (see cooks' note, below). Drain well in a colander.
• Cook bacon in a 5- to 6-quart heavy pot over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 5 minutes. Transfer bacon with a slotted spoon to a small bowl and pour off all but 1 tablespoon fat from pot. Reserve 2 tablespoons chopped bacon for topping, then return remaining bacon to pot and heat over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking. Add onion, bell pepper, garlic, chile, oregano, bay leaf, and thyme and sauté, stirring frequently, until onion is softened, about 5 minutes.
• Add beans, chicken broth, and white pepper and simmer, partially covered, stirring occasionally, until beans are very tender, about 2 1/2 hours. Discard bay leaf and stir in cilantro.
• Serve soup topped with sour cream, chopped cilantro, and reserved bacon.

BLACK BEAN AND SMOKED CHICKEN SOUP

Steps:

• Pick over and rinse the beans. Put them into a large bowl and cover completely with cold water. Let the beans soak overnight (or at least 8 hours).
• Drain the beans and transfer them to a medium saucepan. Add the 2 cups water and the bay leaf. Bring to a boil over medium heat and cook for 15 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, uncovered, for about 20 minutes, until the beans are tender. Drain the beans and discard the bay leaf.
• Preheat oven to 400ºF.
• Place a heavy stockpot over medium heat for about 1 minute, then spray it twice with the vegetable oil. Add the broccoli stems, carrot, celery, and onion. Cover, reduce the heat to low, and cook for 5 minutes, stirring once or twice. Stir in the thyme, basil, and wine. Simmer, uncovered, for about 15 minutes, until the wine has been reduced by 1/2.
• In the meantime, coat the chicken thoroughly with the barbecue sauce and bake for 10 minutes on the top shelf of the oven. Remove the chicken from the oven and allow it to cool just long enough to handle. Cut the chicken into small cubes.
• Add the chicken, chicken stock, and beans to the stockpot. Cook over low heat for about 3 minutes, until thoroughly heated. Stir in the evaporated milk and the broccoli florets. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring if needed to keep the soup from coming to a boil. Add the dissolved cornstarch and cook for 2 minutes more, stirring constantly. Stir in the liquid smoke, worcestershire, and tabasco sauce.
• Garnish with the chopped cilantro.

"GEORGE'S AT THE COVE" BLACK BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• In 1/4 cup butter, saute carrots, onion, celery and broccoli stems for 5 minutes.
• Add thyme, oregano and basil; saute 5 minutes more.
• Add wine and deglaze pan.
• Add hot chicken stock and reduce by one-third.
• Add Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco, smoked chicken, beans and broccoli florets; simmer 5 minutes.
• Add cream, simmer 5 minutes more and season to taste (thicken with cornstarch if desired).
• Drop in remaining butter, piece by piece, stirring until melted and serve immediately.
• Smoked Chicken: On a covered grill, slightly smoke boneless chicken, cooking to medium rare (about 30 minutes).
• Chef Meskan uses applewood chips and does not allow the grill to become too hot.

BLACK BEAN SOUP RECIPE

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients. I like to pulverize (leaving some texture) with a hand blender, but it's not required. Heat on the stove, or the soup can be eaten cold if you prefer. The recipe is easily customizable - feel free to add diced roasted sweet potato, corn, etc. Leftovers can be frozen.