Blackbeansoupwithcilantrocream Recipes

BLACK BEAN SOUP WITH CILANTRO CREAM

Steps:

• Combine the sun dried tomatoes and 1 cup boiling water in a small bowl. Make sure the tomatoes are covered and let stand until the tomatoes are soft. Drain, reserving the liquid, and then chop the tomatoes.
• Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan and sauté the bacon and onion until the onion is soft. Add the tomatoes, tomato liquid, beans, chicken or vegetable stock, garlic, cumin and hot pepper sauce. Mix well. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, covered, for five minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the cilantro (coriander) leaves.
• Blend with a stick blender (or in batches in the blender or food processor) until smooth. Return to the saucepan and heat gently before serving.
• To make the coriander cream: Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and mix well.
• Ladle hot soup into bowls and drizzle with the Cilantro Cream. You may garnish with some more chopped cilantro (coriander) if you wish.
• Notes: I have made this using my own oven dried cherry tomatoes and I usually save half a cup of the soup which does not get blended to give a bit more texture when added at the end.

BLACK BEAN SOUP WITH CILANTRO-LIME SOUR CREAM

Steps:

• Place beans in large bowl. Add enough water to cover by 3 inches. Let stand overnight. Drain well.
• Cook bacon in heavy large pot over medium heat until brown but still soft, about 4 minutes. Add celery, onion, carrots and leeks and sauté until vegetables begin to soften, about 10 minutes. Add beans, chicken broth, tomato, 1/2 cup cilantro, parsley, garlic, jalapeño, vinegar, cumin and coriander. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer soup until beans are very tender, stirring occasionally, about 2 hours.
• Working in batches, transfer soup to blender and process until slightly chunky puree forms. Return soup to pot. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Bring to simmer before continuing.)
• Mix sour cream, lemon juice, lime juice and 1/2 cup cilantro in small bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Ladle soup into bowls. Place dollop of sour cream mixture atop soup. Garnish with additional chopped cilantro and chopped tomato.

BLACK BEAN-TOMATO SOUP WITH CILANTRO-LIME CREAM

Steps:

• Cook bacon in a large saucepan over medium heat until crisp.
• Remove bacon with a slotted spoon, reserving 1 teaspoon drippings in pan; set bacon aside.
• Add onion and celery to pan; cook 5 minutes or until celery is tender.
• Stir in 3/4 teaspoon cumin, chile powder, and garlic; cook 1 minute.
• Stir in bacon, pepper, beans, tomatoes, and broth; bring to a boil.
• Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes.
• Place half of bean mixture in a blender. Remove center piece of blender lid (to allow steam to escape); secure blender lid on blender. Place a clean towel over opening in blender lid (to avoid splatters).
• Blend until smooth.
• Pour into a large bowl.
• Repeat procedure with remaining bean mixture; process until smooth. Keep warm.
• Combine sour cream, remaining 1/4 teaspoon cumin, cilantro, rind, and juice in a small bowl. Drizzle cream over soup.