Better Black Bean Soup Food

THE BEST BLACK BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a soup pot. Add the celery, red bell pepper, carrot, onion, garlic and tomato paste cook over medium-high until they start to soften, about 5 minutes
• Add the chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, salt and red pepperflakes and continue cooking for an additional 3-4 minutes. Add a cup of the water or vegetable broth, and cook for another 2-3 minutes
• Add the black beans with their liquid, the remaining 2 cups of water or vegetable broth and the brown rice. Bring to a boil and simmer for 20 -30 minutes, or until rice is cooked and all the veggies are tender (the longer you cook the soup, the better it will taste)
• Add a little more water, if you want the soup to be less thick, but don't add too much or it will water down the flavor

BLACK BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• In a large skillet, let the oil heat over medium heat.
• Add in the onion, carrot, bell pepper, and garlic; cover and cook for about 5 minutes or until the veggies are softened.
• Transfer veggie mixture to a 4-6 quart slowcooker.
• Add in the beans, tomatoes with juice, vegetable stock, bay leaves, cumin, thyme, cayenne, salt and pepper; stir to mix.
• Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours.
• Remove and throw away bay leaf; adjust seasonings to taste.
• Add in lemon juice right before you are ready to serve.
• To thicken soup, puree about 2 cups (or up to one-half) of soup solids by using an immersion blender right in the cooker or take out soup solids and tranfer to a blender or food processor; return puree to slow-cooker.

BEST BLACK BEAN SOUP

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.

BLACK BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Put the bacon into a large heavy pot and place it over medium heat. Cook until it starts to give up its fat, about 4 minutes. Stir in the onions and cook, stirring, until they start to turn translucent, about 4 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook until you can smell it, about 1 minute. Add the broth, tomatoes, ketchup, Worcestershire, and chili powder. Stir in the beans, turn the heat to high and bring to a boil. Adjust the heat so the soup is bubbling gently and cook 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Meanwhile, pick off all the thick stems from the cilantro. Wash it and shake dry. Chop the cilantro coarsely and stir it into the soup when it has been simmering 10 minutes. cook until the soup is thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the lime juice. Serve with the garnishes.

BLACK BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• PLACE 1 can of beans with liquid and broth in blender or food processor; cover. Blend until smooth. Coat large saucepan with cooking spray. Heat over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic; cook for 4 to 5 minutes or until onion is tender.
• ADD blended bean mixture, remaining beans and liquid, salsa, lime juice, cumin and crushed red pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; cover. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 25 to 30 minutes. Serve topped with yogurt. Garnish with cilantro.

JAPANESE BLACK BEAN SOUP

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!

EASY BLACK BEAN SOUP

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.

EASY BLACK BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Saute onion in olive oil.
• When onion becomes translucent, add cumin.
• Cook 30 seconds, then add garlic and cook for another 30 to 60 seconds.
• Add 1 can black beans and 2 cups vegetable broth.
• Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally.
• Turn off heat.
• Using a hand blender, blend the ingredients in the pot, or transfer to a blender.
• Add the second can of beans to the pot along with blended ingredients and bring to a simmer.
• Serve soup with bowls of red onion and cilantro for garnish.
• I add a bit of cilantro to the pot, too.
• Can be doubled or frozen.