The Coach Houses Black Bean Soup Recipes

THE COACH HOUSE'S BLACK BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Wash beans in a colander. Put in a bowl. Cover with cold water and let soak overnight, refrigerated.
• Drain and wash again.
• In a large casserole, combine drained beans with the 3 quarts of water. Cover and simmer for 90 minutes.
• In a heavy kettle, saute bacon a few minutes, then add celery and onion and cook until tender. Do not brown.
• Add beef bones, ham shank, remaining herbs and vegetables and pepper. Add beans and their cooking liquid. Cover and simmer for 3-4 hours, until beans are very tender. Add more water if necessary.
• Remove bones and ham. Puree soup in a food mill. Return to pot, add Madeira and chopped eggs. Mix well and serve.

COACH HOUSE BLACK BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Wash beans, cover with cold water and soak overnight. Drain & wash again.
• Place beans in a saucepan and add 2-1/2 quarts of fresh water. Cover and simmer 90 minutes.
• Cook bacon in a large heavy kettle for a few minutes. Add celery & onions and cook until tender; do not brown. Blend in flour and cook, stirring for 1 minute.
• Add ham and beef bones, parsley, bay leaves, garlic, carots, parsnips, salt & pepper and the beans with the cooking liquid. Cover and simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally, for 4 hours. Add more water if necessary.
• Remove bones and/or rind or hocks from the pot and set aside.
• Blend about 1/2 the soup in a blender (or use an immersion blender) and return it to the pot.
• Remove the meat from the bones or hocks, chop fine and return to the soup, discarding the bones.
• Add the wine.
• Top each serving with chopped eggs and float a slice of lemon on top, sprinkled with chopped parsley.
• Serve with additional Madeira to splash on top if desired.

CONTEST-WINNING BLACK BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mash 1 can black beans; set aside. In a large saucepan, saute the celery, onion, red pepper and jalapeno in oil until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. , Stir in the broth, tomatoes, cumin, coriander, hot sauce, pepper, bay leaf, mashed black beans and remaining whole beans. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15 minutes. , Discard bay leaf. Stir in lime juice. Garnish each serving with 1 tablespoon sour cream and 1-1/2 teaspoons green onion.

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.