Authentic Cuban Black Bean Soup Food

SMOKY BLACK BEAN & PEPPER SOUP

Steps:

• Drain and rinse beans. Finely chop 1 onion and half of the second and set aside. Finely chop 1 bell pepper and set aside. Cut the other into quarters.
• Combine the beans, the remaining half onion, the quartered bell pepper, ham hock, bay leaves and water in a pot. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook until the beans are tender, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Transfer the ham hock to a clean cutting board and let cool. Discard the onion, bell pepper and bay leaves. Transfer 1 cup of the beans to a small bowl and mash with a fork. Remove the meat from the ham hock and chop.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add Cubanelle (or jalapeno) and the reserved chopped onions and bell pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender, about 4 minutes. Add cumin, oregano and salt; cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add vinegar, scraping up any browned bits. Add the mashed beans and cook for 1 minute. 5. Add the vegetables and ham to the beans in the pot. Heat over medium heat, stirring, until hot, about 5 minutes. Serve topped with roasted red peppers, jalapeno, avocado, red onion and lime wedges, if desired.

CUBAN BLACK BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Place bay leaves and beans in a Dutch oven.
• Add 12 cups water to pan; bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat, and simmer 2 1/2 hours or until tender, stirring occasionally.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
• Add bell pepper, chopped onion, and shallots to pan; cook 10 minutes or until onion is tender, stirring frequently.
• Stir in cumin, dried oregano, and fresh oregano; cook 2 minutes, stirring frequently.
• Remove from heat; let stand 10 minutes.
• Place vegetable mixture in a blender; add remaining 1/2 cup water; puree until smooth.
• Add vegetable mixture, sugar, and salt to beans; simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Discard bay leaves.
• Combine avocado and juice; toss gently.
• Ladle 3/4 cup bean mixture into each of 10 bowls; top each serving with about 3 tablespoons avocado mixture, about 3 tablespoons red onion, 2 tablespoons ham, about 1 1/2 tablespoons cilantro, about 1 1/2 tablespoons sour cream, 1 teaspoon pumpkinseed kernels, and about 1/2 teaspoon jalapeño pepper.
• Serve with lime wedges, if desired.

CUBAN BLACK BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• In a large stockpot, cover the beans with water, covering them by 2 inches. Add bay leaf, cumin, oregano, and Italian pepper. Simmer until the beans are tender, about 45 minutes.
• After 45 minutes, remove the pepper.
• In a saute pan, saute onions, red, and green peppers until translucent. Puree in a blender, this is the sofrito.
• In the same pan, saute the garlic. Add to the beans, along with the sofrito, 1/4-cup olive oil, sugar, and vinegar. Season with salt and continue to cook until very thick, about 45 minutes. Garnish with finely chopped red onion.

BLACK BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Pick through the beans and discard any debris - wash under cold running water. In a food processor, add garlic, onion, bell pepper, and cilantro.
• Set a large pot over medium heat and add a 3-count of olive oil. Add the oregano and cumin. Add vegetable puree and saute until just fragrant, 7 to 10 minutes. Add beans, ham hock, jalapeno, and stock. Slightly cover and simmer for 2 hours until beans are tender.
• When cooked, remove bay leaves and take out ham hock. Cut ham meat off the bone, cut into pieces and set aside.
• Using a blender or immersion blender, puree just enough of the beans and stock (about a third of the total pot) to thicken up the soup and bring everything together. Season with salt and pepper and fold ham meat back into the soup.
• Make the crema by combining sour cream and zest. Serve each soup with a spoonful of lime crema, a squeeze of lime and some fresh cilantro.

GLORIA'S BLACK BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Place the beans in a nonreactive pan. Cover with the 3 quarts of water, add the bay leaves, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer the beans for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, stirring frequently and adding more water if necessary to keep them well covered.
• Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a sauté pan or skillet. Sauté the bell peppers, shallots, and onions over medium heat until the onions are translucent, about 15 minutes.
• Add the garlic, cumin, dried and fresh oregano, and sauté for an additional 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly. Transfer to a blender and purée until smooth.
• When the beans are almost tender, add the puréed mixture, sugar, and salt to the beans and cook until just tender, 20 to 30 minutes. Adjust the seasonings, garnish with the red onion and sour cream, and serve.

CUBAN BLACK BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven coated with cooking spray, saute the celery, onion, garlic and jalapeno in oil until onion is tender. Stir in the beans, broth, water, seasonings and hot pepper sauce. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Cool slightly., In a blender, process soup in batches until smooth. Return to the pan; heat through. Garnish each serving with tomatoes, sour cream and cilantro.

ABUELA'S FRIJOLES NEGROS - GRANDMA'S CUBAN BLACK BEANS

Steps:

• Wash beans and let them soak in water and half of the green pepper over night at room temperature.
• Once beans have swollen, simmer on stove until they become soft (about 45 minutes).
• Heat olive oil in pan and sauté onion, garlic, and the rest of the green pepper.
• Add 1 cup of the coked beans to pan and mash well.
• Return entire mixture to pot with beans.
• Add salt, pepper, oregano, bay leaf, and sugar.
• Cover and return to boil.
• Simmer for 1 hour longer.
• Add vinegar and dry wine, cover and simmer for one hour longer.
• If beans are still too wet after this time, cook uncovered until they thicken.
• Remove bay leaf and top with olive oil prior to serving.