Traditional Costa Rican Bean Soup Food

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.

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.

VEGETABLE-BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• In a large pot, heat oil over medium-high. Add carrots, celery, and onion and cook until onion is translucent, about 6 minutes. Add garlic and thyme and season with salt and pepper; cook until fragrant, about 3 minutes. Add beans, tomatoes, broth, and parsley and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until vegetables are tender, 25 to 30 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Divide soup among four bowls and serve with Parmesan.

TRADITIONAL COSTA RICAN BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Rinse beans well.
• Soak beans in water in a saucepan for 2 hours.
• Bring to a boil.
• Cover and simmer until beans are soft about 1 ½ hours. Remove from heat.
• Puree beans with their liquid, onions, bell peepers, oregano, cilantro, celery, garlic, and cilantro in a blender.
• Transfer to a saucepan and heat the soup at medium low temperature.
• Poach eggs in soup.
• Serve hot w/ fried flour or corn tortillas.

COSTA RICAN BLACK BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• In a large stock pot, sauté celery, onion, red pepper, tomatoes, garlic and ginger in oil over medium heat until vegetables are tender and onion is clear.
• Add remaining ingredients, bring to a boil and simmer for 30 minutes. Serve hot.