~ Cuban black bean soup Recipe ~

 
                           CUBAN BLACK BEAN SOUP
 
 Recipe By     : 
 Serving Size  : 4    Preparation Time :0:00
 Categories    : Soups                            Main dish
                 Low-cal
 
   Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
 --------  ------------  --------------------------------
    1       lb           Beans, dried black
    1       c            Onion -- chopped
    1       tb           Margarine or butter
    4       c            Water
    1                    Bouillon cube, beef
   12       oz           Ham, cooked lean
    2                    Bay leaves
      1/2   ts           Thyme, dried leaf
      1/2   ts           Oregano, dried leaf
      1/2   ts           Salt
    1                    Pepper, dried whole red
    1       c            Pepper, green bell -- chopped
      1/3   c            Dark rum (optional)
    1       c            Sour cream (optional)
 
   Sort and soak beans overnight; drain and discard soak
   water. In a 4-quart pot, saute onion in butter or marg
   until tender but not browned. Add soaked beans, 4 cups
   water, bouillon cube, ham (cut into 4-6 chunks), bay
   leaves, thyme, oregano, salt & red pepper. Bring to
   boil; reduce heat. Cover and simmer until beans are
   tender, 1 to 1-1/2 hour. Remove 1 c. beans from stew,
   mash in a bowl with potato masher or fork. Add mashed
   beans to stew; stir to thicken. Remove ham and dice.
   Remove bay leaves and red pepper, if used and discard.
   Add diced meat, green pepper and rum (if desired) to
   beans. Cover and simmer 15 minutes. Serve beans over
   rice and top with sour cream if desired.
  
 
 
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