Puerto Rican Bean Ham Soup Recipes

PINTO BEAN/HAM SOUP

Steps:

• Wash and sort beans. Soak in cold water overnight; drain. In a large 8-qt. soup kettle, combine the beans, carrots, onions, celery, garlic, meat and paprika. Add enough water to cover ingredients by 2 in. simmer, partly covered, for 2-1/2 hours or until the beans are tender, adding more water as needed. When beans are tender; remove meat to side dish. , To make Csipetke, mix flour, salt, egg and oil into stiff dough; let rest for 30 minutes. Divide into four parts. Flatten each part and pinch off pieces about the size of a cherry pit; roll between fingers and drop into hot soup. Cook 30 minutes. Blend in sour cream if desired. Mix in parsley and vinegar; adjust seasoning. Cut reserved ham into bite-size pieces; stir into soup.

PUERTO RICAN BEAN & HAM SOUP

Steps:

• Soak beans overnight in plenty of cold water to cover.
• The next day, pick over and rinse beans well. Place in pan with 8 cups cold water. Bring to boil and immediately reduce to simmer. Keeping partially covered, simmer until beans are tender, about 35 minutes.
• Meanwhile, saute bacon until it begins to color. Reserve 2 tablespoons fat and drain off any excess. (If preferred, all the bacon fat can be drained and replaced with 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil.)
• Make a SOFRITO by sauteing the onion, garlic, bell pepper, black pepper and cilantro or cilantro until wilted in the hot oil. Add ham and salami and saute another 1 or 2 minutes. Add SOFRITO to beans, using water from beans to loosen any last bits from bottom. Consistency of soup should be thick, but not like a stew. If necessary, add enough water to the pan to give it soup-like consistency. Simmer 15 minutes. Add salt, spaghetti and tomato sauce to beans. Cook 7 more minutes. Taste for salt and serve.

PUERTO RICAN-STYLE BLACK BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Stir 1 tablespoon seasoning blend in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat until fragrant and slightly darker in color, about 4 minutes. Transfer seasoning to processor. Add black beans, vegetable broth and olive oil to processor and purée until mixture is almost smooth, scraping down sides of bowl occasionally. Transfer purée to same saucepan. Bring to boil, stirring occasionally. Mix in lime juice. Season soup to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with lime wedges.