Black Bean Soup
Slow cook black beans in Mexican spices and top with cheese and sour cream.
Recipe by:
Food Network Kitchens
220
20
6-8
Easy
- 450g black beans, picked over, rinsed and drained
- 30g unsalted butter or oil
- 150g finely chopped onion
- 50g finely chopped celery
- 25g finely chopped carrot
- 3 cloves minced garlic
- 1 tsp minced fresh thyme
- 2 large smoked ham hocks, about 530g
- 2.25L water or homemade chicken stock
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
- 125ml dry sherry
- Optional serving garnishes: Sour cream or creme fraiche, finely chopped hard cooked egg, or 1 minced spring onion
1) Put the beans in a large saucepan and cover with cold water by 5-cm. Bring to a boil and lower the heat to a simmer. Cook for 5 minutes; remove from the heat, cover and set aside for one hour. Drain and reserve.
2) In a large soup pot heat the butter or oil over medium heat. Add the onions, celery and carrots, and saute until wilted and golden, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and thyme and saute for three minutes more. Add the beans, hocks, water or stock, and bring to a simmer. Cover, adjust the heat to maintain a gentle simmer, cook until beans and meat are tender, about 1-1/2 hours.
3) Turn the soup off. Remove the ham hocks from the soup, set aside to cool. Remove the meat from the hocks, discarding the bones, fat and skin. Cut the meat into small cubes and reserve.
2) In a large soup pot heat the butter or oil over medium heat. Add the onions, celery and carrots, and saute until wilted and golden, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and thyme and saute for three minutes more. Add the beans, hocks, water or stock, and bring to a simmer. Cover, adjust the heat to maintain a gentle simmer, cook until beans and meat are tender, about 1-1/2 hours.
3) Turn the soup off. Remove the ham hocks from the soup, set aside to cool. Remove the meat from the hocks, discarding the bones, fat and skin. Cut the meat into small cubes and reserve.
4) Puree the soup, with an immersion blender or in batches in a blender. Simmer the soup with the reserved meat. Season with salt and pepper to taste and add the sherry. To serve, divide the soup among warmed bowls, and top with one or more of the garnishes, if desired.
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