Friday, December 7, 2007

Cuban Black Bean Soup

Thank y'all SO much for all the sweet birthday wishes! It was so great to hear from everyone & I so appreciate you stopping by to see me & I met some new friends for the first time too, WOW, that was a lot of birthday wishes...it made my Birthday really special, since I didn't do anything yesterday, but will celebrate when hubby gets back. Talked to him on the phone & he wants to try out a new restaurant that we've heard about that sounds good, so we'll have a date on Saturday night!

It's Friday & BooMama is having a Soup-tacular at her place. I was going to share a Black Bean Soup recipe anyway, so figured I'd get in on her extravaganza too....maybe you all would be interested in some new soup recipes. I know we sure like soup around our house when the weather gets nippy! So go on over & see what else you might like.

So, here you go...this is a great recipe I found several years ago in the Atlanta paper & it came from Gloria Estefan (remember her?) and a restaurant in Miami. It's really hearty, my hubby loves it, and we have it quite often in the winter months. I just made it last weekend & remembered to take a picture. I think you're gonna love this one!
Cuban Black Bean Soup

1 lb. black beans (dried)
2 cans (13 or 14 oz.) chicken broth

Sofrito

1/3 cup olive oil
1 large onion, chopped fine
1 TBL minced garlic
1 green bell pepper, chopped fine
1 can (14 oz) whole or diced tomatoes (I don't drain, just dump the whole can in)
1 TBL cumin
1 TSP chile (optional, I don't usually add this, but it would heat it up)
2 TBL cider vinegar (or sometimes I use Red Wine vinegar)
1 TSP salt
1/2 TSP ground pepper
1 TBL fresh cilantro (optional, I don't usually buy this, but I do love cilantro)

Soak beans in water to cover 2 inches overnight. (to quick-soak: combine beans with water to cover by 2 inches in large pot & bring to boil; boil 2 minutes. Cover & let stand 1 hour. ) Drain.

Return beans to large pot with fresh water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to boil over high heat, reduce heat, cover & simmer until beans are tender (usually 1 1/2 hours).

Sofrito: Meanwhile, heat oil in large skillet over med. heat. Add onion, garlic & green pepper, cook stirring occasionally, until onion is translucent, 8 min. or so. Add tomatoes cumin, chiles, vinegar, salt & pepper. Cook, breaking up tomatoes, 2 minutes more.

Drain beans, add the 2 cans of chicken broth, add Sofrito, cover & cook for about 30 minutes.

This is really good! It sounds time consuming, but if you remember to soak your beans ahead of time, it will go pretty fast. Soaking overnight & then cooking the beans ahead of time is the best time-saver. The Sofrito takes no time to cook up, then you just simmer for about 30 minutes & it's ready to eat. Great with some fresh crusty bread & a salad on the side.

Buon Appetito, ya'll!

We are having our Sunday School class over on Sunday evening for a Christmas party, so I've been scrambling around trying to get this house all finished! I've got lots more of my Christmas decor to share with you, so stay tuned. I'm trying my best to get around & visit everyone to see what you are up to also. I just LOVE Christmas!

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22 friends stopped by:

Michelle said...

Sounds like you'll have a lot of fun things to look forward to this weekend, Rhoda! Your soup recipe sounds (and looks) delicious but my gang doesn't really care too much for beans :0( Looking forward to seeing more pics of your Christmas decor!

Enjoy your weekend and have lots of fun and laughter!

Nan said...

Thanks for the recipe. Stop by for my chicken velvet soup.
Nan

Southern Heart said...

That sounds very yummy---I can't wait to try it!

I hope that you have a fun time celebrating your birthday this weekend!!

xoxo, Andrea

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday Rhoda....and many, many more !!! I hope you and your hubby have a lovely dinner Sat. night !!!

Kathy :)

Julie said...

Yummo! Okay - now I have heartburn because I want to eat some!! ha ha

Also - I keep forgetting to tell you... I used those antique claw tongs for our Thanksgiving Dinner this year!

Sandi McBride said...

My absolutely favorite soup...when we were children living in Tampa going to Ybor City was a treat...I understand it's a case of not so much" anymore...Mama made the best black bean soup,she was taught by one of her Cuban friends...with Cuban bread...posted it months ago...but the Cuban bread makes it! Thanks for posting your recipe...everyone should try Black Bean Soup!
xo
Sandi

Nunnie's Attic said...

I love it when a southern gal speaks Italian! I can hear you saying it.

Sounds delish. I wonder if, when in a pinch, how canned black beans would work. I always have an array of various beans in my pantry.

Buon Natale!
Love,
Julie

BittersweetPunkin said...

Oh Rhoda! Sorry I missed your Birthday!! Yesterday was my "day off" from Blogland...HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY! That black bean soup recipe looks yummy!
Blessings,
Robin

My Trendy Tykes said...

This sounds like a VERY YUMMY recipe!
Thanks for sharing and I hope you had a great bday.

Linda

Smoochiefrog said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog.

Your recipe sounds good. Unfortunately, I have a wuss for a stomach and it might be too spicy for me. Even if it's not spicy. I'm weird, I know.

I found someone else who had a birthday yesterday too. Lotsa babies born on St. Nicholas Day! Happy Belated Birthday to ya!

Have a great weekend!

Rosemary said...

Hi Rhoda,
Sounds like a great soup!!
Thanks for the recipe.
Have a fun date Saturday night!
Rosemary

Debra from Bungalow said...

I love black bean soup but have never tried to make it. I know this recipe is good if it came from you! I'll probably give it a try. How do you deal with the digestive difficulties of bean? ;)
Have fun at the house tour.
Hugs, DebraK

shelbi said...

oh my, this sounds so delicious. thank you for sharing...oddly enough i have been on a cuban black bean kick for some time now...both me and my mr. wonderful. i have some black beans in my pantry and i am trying this recipe this weekend! we had cuban black beans a while ago and we were hooked. they are the best way to eat black beans...;)

and before i forget, rhoda, i would like to extend an invitation to you to come by my blog and join in my 'jewelry give away' in honor of world vision...i hope to see you :)

many hugs today,
shelbi

Cape Cod Washashore said...

Oh my! I missed your birthday! Hope you had a fabulous one!!!

Thank you for the yummy recipe! I've been making all sorts of bean and lentil soups this fall; your recipe sounds like delicious one!

Kari (GrannySkywalker) said...

I made a soup for dinner tonight, as a matter of fact. While it tasted pretty darn good, if I do say so myself, it just wasn't all that great since it's so warm outside these days. We were in the mid 80's today. Can you believe that? I haven't stopped griping about it since I checked the thermometer around 12:00 this afternoon. I want some cold weather. And THEN I'll eat soup every night and be happy to do it. lol
I'll have to print out this recipe just in case winter does decide to visit Texas this year, though. I think my husband would REALLY like it.

Merry Christmas, Rhoda!
Kari

Mary said...

Oh Rhoda, I'm so sorry I missed your birthday -- hope it was a happy one!

Your soup looks delicious -- can't wait to try it!
xoxo,
Mary

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

Thank you all again for the birthday wishes!! Even though I didn't do anything exciting on my actual birthday, I'm celebrating today (Sat.) and going to a Christmas tour of homes with some girlfriends, then out to dinner at a posh restaurant with hubby tonight, so it will be a special day today!

Merry Christmas to all my sweet blogfriends...I just love to hear from all of you & I hope you're having a good weekend too! I'll have pics to share from the tour hopefully later.

Big hugs,
Rhoda

Suzanne said...

Yummy! This looks so good. Hope you enjoy your fun day today at the Christmas tour of homes! Can't wait to see pics.

Deserae said...

Ohhhh that soup does look soooo good especially with the freezing rain and temps we are having today!!!!Brrrrrr......
Happy Holidays!
~Des

PS. Happy Belated Birthday too!

Justabeachkat said...

Oh.My.Word! That looks and sounds yummy!

Hugs!
Kat

Andi said...

I'm going to have to try your soup when we get a chilly day. It has to be cooler to put me in the soup mood...but it sure looks yummy!

Vonda said...

Oh yeah we have a lot of soup in the Winter too so I'll have to make the Black Bean soup. How was the Christmas party with your Class? -V