Title: Gloria's Black Bean Soup
Categories: Soup Vegetable Appetizer
Yield: 6 Servings
| PHILLY.INQUIRER |
| 1 | lb | DRIED BLACK BEANS |
| 1 | tb | GROUND,CUMIN |
| 3 | qt | WATER |
| 2 | tb | DRIED OREGANO |
| 2 | | WHOLE BAY LEAVES |
| 2 | tb | FRESH OREGANO CHOPPED |
| | | OR 2 TS.DRIED |
| 1 | c | OLIVE OIL,OR TO TASTE |
| 3 | | SMALL SHALLOTS,PEELED DICED |
| 2 | tb | FRESH PARSLEY 1,OZ. |
| 1 | | SMALL ONION,PEELED DICED |
| 1 1/2 | tb | SUGAR |
| 1 | | LARGE RED PEPPER,CLEANED DIC |
| 1 | | LARGE GREEN PEPPER DICED |
| 4 | | GREEN ONIONS,FINELY CHOPPED |
| 3 | | CLOVES GARLIC,MINCED |
| 1/2 | c | SOUR CREAM.OPTIONAL |
| x | | 1 OR 2 TABLESPOONS SALT |
SOAK THE BEANS IN WATER OVERNIGHT IN A LARGE HEAVY POT.THE NEXT DAY,ADD
THE BAY LEAVES THE BEANS AND WATER,AND BRING MIXTURE TO A BOIL.REDUCE HEAT
TO SIMMER AND COOK UNCOVERED,OVER LOW HEAT FOR THREE TO FOUR HOURS,UNTIL
TENDER.THE BEANS SHOULD SPLIT OPEN.STIR OCCASIONLLY,AND ADD MORE WATER IF
NECESSARY.
HEAT THE OIL IN A HEAVY BOTTOMED SKILLET.ADD THE SHALLOTS AND
ONIONS,AND SAUTE FOR THREE MINUTES.ADD RED PEPPER,GREEN PEPPER AND GARLIC.
AND SAUTE FOR THREE MINUTES.THEN ADD CUMIN,OREGANO AND PARSLEY,AND SAUTE 3
SECONDS MORE.ADD THE SUGAR AND SALT.LET MIXTURE COOL. PUREE ALL THE SAUTED
MIXTURE THROUGHLY IN A FOOD PROCESSOR OR BLENDER.ADD THE PUREE TO THE
BEANS,COOK 20 TO 30 MINUTES MORE.CORRECT SEASONING IF NEEDED.THE SOUP WILL
BE VERY THICK.REMOVE BAY LEAVES BEFORE SERVING.GARNISH WITH GREEN ONIONS
AND A DOLLOP OF SOUR CREAM,IF DESIRED.MAKES SIX SERVINGS.