Memory Lane Black Bean Soup Recipes

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.

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:

• Soak 1 lb. of dried black beans in 6 cups water, either by the quick soak method (boil for 2 minutes, let sit one hour) or overnight.
• Drain the beans.
• Put them in a soup pot and add 8 cups of water.
• Add diced vegetables, bay leaf and oregano or Italian Seasoning.
• Bring to a boil, then turn heat to simmer.
• Cover and simmer until beans are very soft. This might take 2-plus hours.
• Stir from time to time and add water if it needs some.
• When beans are very soft, add 1/4 cup sherry, 2 teaspoons salt and black pepper to taste.
• Simmer another 15 minutes.
• Remove bay leaf.
• Puree with a stick blender if you have one, or in container of blender jar. (Safety warning: If you use a blender do not fill more than 1/2 full with hot soup and hold the lid on firmly with one hand to prevent volcanic eruption.)
• Garnish with avocado cubes or lemon and serve hot.

Steps:

• Cook the celery, carrot and onion in the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the oregano, cumin, red pepper flakes, celery seeds and garlic and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the black beans, bouillon, bay leaf and tomatoes, then add enough water to cover by an inch or two (about 4 cups).
• Bring to a simmer and cook at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours, adding more water if the soup is too thick; remove the bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper.
• Serve with Cubano Sandwiches.
• Split open and quarter 1 loaf French bread. Mix 2 tablespoons each mayonnaise and dijon mustard and spread on the bread. Sandwich with sliced Swiss cheese, deli-style ham, roast pork, pickles and more cheese. Butter the sandwiches, then cook in a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat, pressing with a heavy skillet, 2 minutes. Flip, reduce the heat to medium low and cook, pressing, until golden, 1 more minute.

Steps:

• Spray pan with non-stick spray. Dice onion, add to pan. Add garlic.
• Cook on medium-high heat until onion is translucent.
• Add chicken broth, cumin, cinnamon, chili powder, cilantro, and diced tomatoes. Reduce to medium heat.
• Add drained corn and black beans.
• Simmer for 30 minutes to an hour. (the longer the better!).

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat, and cook the onion until tender. Mix in ginger and garlic, and season with cayenne pepper, thyme, allspice, and celery salt. Pour in the broth. Mix in tomato puree, refried black beans, black pepper, and sugar. Cook and stir until heated through.
• Mix the remaining black beans and lemon juice into the soup. Continue cooking until heated through. Top each serving with a dollop of sour cream.