Best Ever Black Bean Soup – Palm Beach Post
It’s cold today. Florida cold. . . . 62 degrees with 20 mph winds. Yes, I know we’re a little wimpy, but that’s cold for us. So when I read the Palm Beach Post online today, I thought I would share their recipe for the Best Black Bean Soup. This is hearty, filling and nutritious!
Stay warm! (with special warm vibes for those of you who endure real cold and winter weather!)
BEST BLACK BEAN SOUP
Yield: 10 servings
Total time: About 2 hours
For the soup and garnishes:
1 small (7-oz.) can chipotle chilies in adobo (see note)
2 Tbsp. olive oil
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
2 onions, peeled and chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup red wine
2 jalapeño peppers, seeded and chopped
1 lb. dried black beans
2 quarts mild vegetable or chicken stock
1 Tbsp. oregano, preferably Mexican
2 bay leaves
1 Tbsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. ground black pepper
Red wine vinegar, to taste
Sour cream or Mexican crema for garnish (optional)
Whole cilantro leaves for garnish (optional)
For pickled onions: 1 small red onion, peeled and thinly sliced, freshly squeezed juice of 2 limes, salt.
1. Empty the can of chilies 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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, 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. Heat the soup through, taste and adjust the seasonings with salt, pepper, drops of red wine vinegar and dabs of chipotle purée.
8. Serve in deep bowls, garnishing each serving with a dollop of sour cream, a scattering of pickled onions and a flurry of cilantro leaves if you like.
Note: If chipotle chiles are unavailable, use 1 tablespoon each ground cumin and ground coriander. Add to vegetables at the same point in the recipe, in Step 3.
Recipe and pic from The Palm Beach Post.
