Mexican Ham And Bean Soup Recipes

MEXICAN HAM AND BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• To "quick soak" beans: Rinse and pick over beans and place in a large pot. Cover with cold water to 2 inches above beans and bring to a boil for 2 minutes. Remove from heat, cover and let sit for at least an hour. Alternatively, you can soak your beans overnight, or use rinsed, canned beans.
• "Refresh" the dried chile by placing in very hot water for 15 - 30 minutes. Discard seeds and chop finely.
• Drain beans and put them in a large soup pot with broth, onion, water, ham, and herbs and spices. Bring to a boil, cover lightly, and reduce heat to medium-low.
• If you are using dried beans: Simmer 1 1/2 hours or until beans are tender. Then, stir in tomatoes (including juice if you wish) and "refreshed" chile; simmer an additional 30 minutes.
• If you are using canned (or pre-cooked) beans: you can add the tomato and chile with the other ingredients. Cook for a total of 30 minutes or as long as you wish to develop flavours fully.
• Discard bay leaves.
• Serve in bowls garnished with cilantro and a squeeze of lime.
• This freezes well, just freeze (without lime or cilantro) in 1 or 2 serving portions. Thaw in the fridge or microwave straight from frozen. A squeeze of lime after reheating really "freshens" this up after freezing.

QUICK MEXICAN BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine first eight ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until flavors are blended, about 10 minutes. If desired, top with cheese and additional cilantro.

MAYOCOBA BEANS SOUP

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven add bay leaves and pepper bacon. Cook over medium heat until bacon bits are crisp. Reserve bacon grease.
• Add 1-teaspoon Spanish Paprika, onions, carrots, celery and peppers. Season with 1-teaspoon salt 1-teaspoon pepper. Saute vegetables until tender 3-4 minutes. Add garlic, fresh herbs and saute 1-2 minutes. Add remaining Spanish Paprika and stir vegetables to combine.
• Add La Rioja Alta wine and reduce by half.
• Add ham stock, ham shanks, Mayocoba beans, red potatoes and 1/2 cup cilantro. Bring to a full boil and reduce to s simmer for 1 1/2-hours or until beans are cooked. 30-minutes before beans are cooked add diced Black Forest Ham.
• Remove soup from heat. Discard bay leaves and ham shanks. Remove any ham from shanks and add to soup.
• Season soup with fresh cracked black pepper and fine sea salt to taste. Serve soup in warm bowls.
• Garnish soup with Fresh Chopped Cilantro and fine diced Red Spanish Onions.

CHARRO BEANS (FRIJOLES CHARROS)

Steps:

• Place ham hocks into a large pot and cover with water; bring to a boil. Boil until meat pulls back on bone, about 2 hours. Remove meat from bones, cut into bite-sized chunks. Reserve the bones but discard any fat.
• Chop 1/2 of the white onion, and leave other 1/2 whole; set aside.
• Place bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain bacon slices on paper towels, and chop when cool enough to handle. Pour bacon grease into a small bowl.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir chorizo in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Place chorizo into a bowl with chopped bacon, tomatoes, chopped onion, and jalapenos.
• Place ham chunks and bones into a large pot, pour pinto beans over top. Add water to cover and bring to a boil over medium or medium-high heat.
• Meanwhile, heat bacon grease in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chorizo and vegetable mixture and saute until vegetables are soft, 5 to 7 minutes.
• When beans boil, add the remaining onion half and garlic. Let boil for 3 to 4 minutes; add sauteed vegetables and meat. Return to a boil; add cilantro and chicken bouillon. Continue to boil for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove bones, season with salt, and serve.