Old Fashioned Black Bean Soup Recipes

CLASSIC BLACK BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• In 2-quart saucepan, place beans and enough water to cover beans by 2 inches. Heat to boiling; boil 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Cover; let stand 1 hour. Drain beans; set aside.
• In 3- or 4-quart saucepan, heat oil over medium-high heat. Cook 3 cups onions and the bell pepper in oil 8 minutes, stirring frequently, until tender. Add cumin, oregano and garlic; cook and stir 1 minute. Add drained beans, broth and water. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Partially cover; simmer 1 hour 30 minutes or until beans are tender. Remove from heat; cool slightly.
• In blender, place half of bean mixture. Cover; blend on high speed until smooth. Return pureed soup to remaining soup in pan. Stir in lime juice, pepper sauce, salt and pepper. Serve with cheese, finely chopped onion, sour cream and cilantro.

CONTEST-WINNING BLACK BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mash 1 can black beans; set aside. In a large saucepan, saute the celery, onion, red pepper and jalapeno in oil until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. , Stir in the broth, tomatoes, cumin, coriander, hot sauce, pepper, bay leaf, mashed black beans and remaining whole beans. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15 minutes. , Discard bay leaf. Stir in lime juice. Garnish each serving with 1 tablespoon sour cream and 1-1/2 teaspoons green onion.

BLACK BEAN SOUP FROM SCRATCH

Steps:

• Wash beans; place into a 6-quart stockpot with water to cover and let soak for 8 hours.
• Rinse and drain beans. Bring drained beans, 3 quarts water, and chicken bouillon to a boil in the pot over high heat. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 3 hours. Do not drain.
• Blend onion and bell pepper in a food processor until smooth.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Saute garlic in the hot oil for 1 minute. Add onion mixture and cook, stirring constantly, for 4 minutes. Stir mixture into beans. Add sugar, oregano, cumin, salt, and pepper. Let simmer, uncovered, until beans are tender and soup is thickened, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Garnish with minced onion.

OLD-FASHIONED BLACK BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Combine the drained beans, ham bone or hock, and broth in the slow cooker. Cover and cook on High until boiling, about 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the onions, garlic, and celery and cook, stirring a few times, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add to the cooker along with the marjoram and bay leaf. Cover, turn the cooker to Low, and cook the soup for 7 to 8 hours.
• Stir in the salt, pepper, and sherry, cover, and continue to cook on Low 15 minutes longer.
• Discard the bay leaf and ham bone, returning any bits of meat left on the bone to the soup. Puree in batches in a food processor or in the cooker with a handheld immersion blender. Taste to adjust the seasonings. Add some boiling water to thin, if desired. Ladle into soup bowls and serve hot.

BEST BLACK BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Empty the can of chiles into a blender or food processor. Purée until smooth, scrape into a container, and set aside. Put on a teakettle of water to boil, and keep hot.
• In a large, heavy pot, heat olive oil over medium heat until shimmering. Add carrots, onions and garlic and cook, stirring, until softened but not browned, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Pour in wine and let simmer until pan is almost dry and vegetables are coated. Add jalapeños and cook, stirring, just until softened, 2 minutes. Push the vegetables out to the edges of the pot and dollop 2 teaspoons of chipotle purée in the center. Let fry for a minute and then stir together with the vegetables.
• Add beans, stock, oregano and bay leaves. Stir, bring to a boil, and let boil 10 to 15 minutes. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook, partly covered, stirring occasionally and adding hot water as needed to keep the soup liquid and runny, not sludgy. Continue cooking until beans are just softened and fragrant, 1 to 2 hours. Add salt and pepper and keep cooking until beans are soft.
• Meanwhile, make the pickled onions, if using: In a bowl, combine sliced onions, lime juice and a sprinkling of salt. Let soften at room temperature until crunchy and tart, about 30 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water. Squeeze dry in paper towels and refrigerate until ready to serve. If desired, chop coarsely before serving.
• Adjust the texture of the soup: The goal is to combine whole beans, soft chunks and a velvety broth. Some beans release enough starch while cooking to produce a thick broth without puréeing. If soup seems thin, use an immersion blender or blender to purée a small amount of the beans until smooth, then stir back in. Continue until desired texture is reached, keeping in mind that the soup will continue to thicken as it sits.
• Heat the soup through, taste and adjust the seasonings with salt, pepper, drops of red wine vinegar and dabs of chipotle purée.
• Serve in deep bowls, garnishing each serving with sour cream, pickled onions, cilantro leaves, sliced chiles and avocado as desired.

OLD FASHIONED BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Wash beans, discarding imperfect ones. Cover beans with 2 1/2 quarts water; refrigerate, covered, overnight.
• Next day, turn beans and water (there should be 6 cups) into 6-quart kettle.
• Add ham hocks, onion, garlic and bay leaf. Bring to boiling; reduce heat, and simmer, covered tightly, about 2 hours, or until the beans are almost tender.
• Add mashed potato, celery, carrot, salt and pepper. Return to boiling; simmer, covered, about 1 hour longer, or until beans are tender.
• Remove ham hocks; cut off meat. Dice meat, and return to kettle. Just before serving, sprinkle with chopped parsley.