Japanese Black Bean Soup Recipes

Steps:

• Most times I can't find chicken broth so I use 2 cans of chicken noodle soup strained so you just have the broth, with water added to equal 5 cups.
• Put everything in a big pot and cook until the veggies are tender. Put 2/3rds of the soup in the blender and blend until smooth. Pour back into the pot. Add the refried beans as the last step. Why last? They tend to settle on the bottom and can burn. Stir and smash the congealed beans until they are no longer one huge clump o'beans.
• Variations I have tried include adding salsa, spooning it over rice or mashed potatoes, topping it with sour cream and green onions or just adding some chopped onions on top. Definitely a crowd pleaser!

Steps:

• Place bacon in a cold pot. Turn heat to medium, cook and stir until the bacon is cooked but not crisp.
• Stir in onion; cook and stir for 5 minutes, until the onion turns translucent and golden.
• Stir in garlic; cook for 2-3 minutes. Add chicken stock, turn heat to medium-high. Stir in oregano, cayenne and salt. Add black beans and water. Return to a simmer.
• Simmer on medium-low, stirring occasionally, for 20-30 minutes. While it's cooking, mash about half the beans to thicken the soup.
• Stir in black pepper and cumin. Add salt to taste.
• Make the relish by stirring together minced green onion, sambal paste, and lime juice.
• Serve garnished with relish, chopped green onions, and sour cream.

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.

Steps:

• Sauté onions and garlic in oil for 5 minutes.
• Add the next 5 ingredients plus ¾ cup water.
• Bring to a boil.
• Simmer for 20 minutes.
• Puree ¾ of the soup and return.
• Stir in orange juice.
• Simmer 5 minutes.

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.