- #1
- 4,663
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OK, iron chefs...I bought about 20 cans of black beans on sale. Is there any easy way to make black bean soup out of some of them? I thought maybe I could cook some diced onions in chicken stock and puree with the beans..?
Easy Black Bean Soup Recipe for the Iron Chef at Home
Click For Summary
Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around various methods and recipes for making black bean soup, utilizing canned black beans. Participants share personal preferences, recipes, and cooking tips, exploring both traditional and creative approaches to preparing the dish.
Discussion Character
- Exploratory
- Technical explanation
- Conceptual clarification
- Debate/contested
- Experimental/applied
Main Points Raised
- One participant suggests cooking diced onions in chicken stock and pureeing them with black beans for a simple soup.
- Another proposes frying black beans with onions to create a paste that pairs well with jasmine rice.
- Several recipes are shared, including one that incorporates bacon, celery, and spices, and another that features sun-dried tomatoes and jalapeños.
- A participant mentions the comfort of black bean soup during winter and suggests garnishing with sour cream or salsa.
- There is a suggestion to use a pressure cooker for faster cooking of beans, while another participant shares experiences with a crock pot.
- One participant expresses excitement about making Brazilian black bean soup, highlighting the ability to adjust spice levels.
- Another participant shares a simple recipe from memory involving sautéed onions, garlic, and black beans served over rice.
- There are mentions of adding ingredients like celery and linguisa to enhance the soup's flavor.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants generally agree on the versatility and appeal of black bean soup, but multiple competing recipes and methods are presented without a consensus on a single best approach.
Contextual Notes
Some recipes rely on specific ingredients that may not be universally available, and there are variations in cooking methods that may affect the final outcome. The discussion includes personal preferences that may influence recipe choices.
Who May Find This Useful
Home cooks looking for easy and diverse recipes for black bean soup, as well as those interested in using canned beans creatively.
- #2
motai
- 364
- 2
You could always fry them with onions into a black bean paste, that goes really well with jasmine rice.
Black beans are my favorite bean
, so much flavor, all the other ones aren't as good .
Black beans are my favorite bean
, so much flavor, all the other ones aren't as good .- #3
Townsend
- 240
- 0
motai said:You could always fry them with onions into a black bean paste, that goes really well with jasmine rice.
Black beans are my favorite bean
I agree...they go good with sour cream too...
Last edited:
- #4
Evo
Staff Emeritus
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- 3,277
Here are a couple I found with pre-cooked beans.
Ingredients:
1 slice bacon
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery
2 1/2 cups black beans, cooked and drained
2 1/2 cups water
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Directions:
Fry bacon over medium heat in small heavy in small heavy frying pan; crumble bacon and set aside. Heat bacon drippings over medium heat; saute onion and celery until tender, stirring occasionally. Puree beans in blender or food processor fitted with steel blade stir into vegetables.
Mix in crumbled bacon and remaining ingredients, stirring occasionally until soup is hot. Soup will thicken as it stands and can be thinned with additional water. Serve hot.
Recipe URL:
http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/278/Black_Bean_Soup1148.shtml
Ingredients:
10 sun-dried tomatoes
1 cup boiling water
1 1/2 cup onions -- finely chopped
3 cloves garlic -- minced or pressed
1 Jalapeno -- Chopped
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/3 cup water
28 ounces Tomatoes, Canned -- Undrained
32 ounces Black Beans, Canned -- Cooked In Liquid
1/4 cup cilantro -- chopped fresh
additional water or tomato juice
Sour Cream
Directions:
In a small bowl, cover the sun-dried tomatoes with the boiling water and set aside. In a soup pot, saute' the onions, garlic, and chile or cayenne in the oil for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until the onions are translucent. Add the cumin, 1/3 cup water, and the juice from the tomatoes.
Break up the tomatoes by squeezing them into the soup pot, or chop them coarsely right in the can and add them to the pot. Cover and bring to a boil. lower the heat and simmer; covered, for 5 minutes.
Add the black beans and their liquid, and continue to simmer, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Drain and chop the softened sun-dried tomatoes. Add them to the soup and cook for 5 to 10 minutes longer, until the onions are tender. Stir in the cilantro and remove the soup from the heat.
Puree half of the soup in a blender or food processor and return it to the pot. If the soup is too thick, add some water or tomato juice. Reheat gently. Serve each bowl of soup with a dollop of yogurt or sour cream.
Recipe URL:
http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/365/Black_Bean_Soup22259.shtml
Ingredients:
1 slice bacon
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery
2 1/2 cups black beans, cooked and drained
2 1/2 cups water
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Directions:
Fry bacon over medium heat in small heavy in small heavy frying pan; crumble bacon and set aside. Heat bacon drippings over medium heat; saute onion and celery until tender, stirring occasionally. Puree beans in blender or food processor fitted with steel blade stir into vegetables.
Mix in crumbled bacon and remaining ingredients, stirring occasionally until soup is hot. Soup will thicken as it stands and can be thinned with additional water. Serve hot.
Recipe URL:
http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/278/Black_Bean_Soup1148.shtml
Ingredients:
10 sun-dried tomatoes
1 cup boiling water
1 1/2 cup onions -- finely chopped
3 cloves garlic -- minced or pressed
1 Jalapeno -- Chopped
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/3 cup water
28 ounces Tomatoes, Canned -- Undrained
32 ounces Black Beans, Canned -- Cooked In Liquid
1/4 cup cilantro -- chopped fresh
additional water or tomato juice
Sour Cream
Directions:
In a small bowl, cover the sun-dried tomatoes with the boiling water and set aside. In a soup pot, saute' the onions, garlic, and chile or cayenne in the oil for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until the onions are translucent. Add the cumin, 1/3 cup water, and the juice from the tomatoes.
Break up the tomatoes by squeezing them into the soup pot, or chop them coarsely right in the can and add them to the pot. Cover and bring to a boil. lower the heat and simmer; covered, for 5 minutes.
Add the black beans and their liquid, and continue to simmer, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Drain and chop the softened sun-dried tomatoes. Add them to the soup and cook for 5 to 10 minutes longer, until the onions are tender. Stir in the cilantro and remove the soup from the heat.
Puree half of the soup in a blender or food processor and return it to the pot. If the soup is too thick, add some water or tomato juice. Reheat gently. Serve each bowl of soup with a dollop of yogurt or sour cream.
Recipe URL:
http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/365/Black_Bean_Soup22259.shtml
- #5
- 4,663
- 36
mmm... thank you so much! these recipes sound wonderful. I do love beans and rice as well as black bean soup.
I think black bean soup is so great in the winter. Real comfort food. I like to put a dab of sour cream on top, too, Townsend. And sometimes it's good with a bit of salsa or cilantro stirred in.
I think black bean soup is so great in the winter. Real comfort food. I like to put a dab of sour cream on top, too, Townsend. And sometimes it's good with a bit of salsa or cilantro stirred in.
- #6
juvenal
- 375
- 0
You got a pressure cooker? I'm not a bean person, but I think beans are much faster to cook that way.
- #7
Evo
Staff Emeritus
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I love beans, I love soup. I think I will make this next weekend.
MIH, you could start the recipe at the point after the beans are cooked.
Brazilian Black Bean Soup
Make this soup as feisty as you like; it's easy to temper the heat by adjusting the amount of chiles. A topping of cheese or sour cream & a float of rum help soothe the fire of the brew. Serve as a first course or as a luncheon or light supper entree.
2 cups dried black beans
8 cups water
3/4 pound cooked ham -- diced
1 ham bone -- if desired
4 cloves garlic -- minced
2 teaspoons salt -- or to taste
1/2 cup onion -- diced
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin -- or to taste
1 tablespoon New Mexico hot red chile -- crushed
1 lime -- juice of
1/4 cup dark rum
4 green onions -- finely chopped
1/2 cup Monterey jack cheese -- shredded
sour cream -- for garnish
lime wedges -- if desired
Sort & rinse beans, then soak overnight in water to cover. (Or place in a large saucepan & add water to cover; bring to a boil. Remove from heat, cover & let stand 1 hour. Simmer 1 1/2 hours, then proceed with recipe.)
MIH, you can start here.
Drain beans; place in a large saucepan & add 8 cups of cold water, ham, ham bone (if desired), garlic, salt, diced onions, chile & lime juice. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, cover & simmer 2 hours or until beans are tender & soup is thick. Taste & adjust seasonings. To serve, remove ham bone, if used. Lace soup with rum; spoon into bowls & top with green onions, cheese or sour cream & lime wedges if desired.
Makes 4 to 6 servings.
Note: USE JAMAICAN RUM! It definitely adds that certain something to make this dish memorable!
From: "Hotter Than Hell" by Jane Butel Book Details at Amazon.Com
MIH, you could start the recipe at the point after the beans are cooked.
Brazilian Black Bean Soup
Make this soup as feisty as you like; it's easy to temper the heat by adjusting the amount of chiles. A topping of cheese or sour cream & a float of rum help soothe the fire of the brew. Serve as a first course or as a luncheon or light supper entree.
2 cups dried black beans
8 cups water
3/4 pound cooked ham -- diced
1 ham bone -- if desired
4 cloves garlic -- minced
2 teaspoons salt -- or to taste
1/2 cup onion -- diced
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin -- or to taste
1 tablespoon New Mexico hot red chile -- crushed
1 lime -- juice of
1/4 cup dark rum
4 green onions -- finely chopped
1/2 cup Monterey jack cheese -- shredded
sour cream -- for garnish
lime wedges -- if desired
Sort & rinse beans, then soak overnight in water to cover. (Or place in a large saucepan & add water to cover; bring to a boil. Remove from heat, cover & let stand 1 hour. Simmer 1 1/2 hours, then proceed with recipe.)
MIH, you can start here.
Drain beans; place in a large saucepan & add 8 cups of cold water, ham, ham bone (if desired), garlic, salt, diced onions, chile & lime juice. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, cover & simmer 2 hours or until beans are tender & soup is thick. Taste & adjust seasonings. To serve, remove ham bone, if used. Lace soup with rum; spoon into bowls & top with green onions, cheese or sour cream & lime wedges if desired.
Makes 4 to 6 servings.
Note: USE JAMAICAN RUM! It definitely adds that certain something to make this dish memorable!
From: "Hotter Than Hell" by Jane Butel Book Details at Amazon.Com
- #8
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Hey, Eeeevoooo! Guess what's simmering on the stove in MIH's kitchen. I'll give you a hint - I'm juicing a lime right now..
- #9
Evo
Staff Emeritus
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Heading to MIH's house! I'm bringing the beano!Math Is Hard said:Hey, Eeeevoooo! Guess what's simmering on the stove in MIH's kitchen. I'll give you a hint - I'm juicing a lime right now..
- #10
- 4,663
- 36
I haven't tried a pressure cooker yet, but I used to make beans in a crock pot.juvenal said:
I'm just basically looking for ways to use up these cans of black beans I have. I got 'em for cheap, so I bought a bunch.
- #11
- 4,663
- 36
oh, yeah - I forgot to buy Beano!Evo said:Heading to MIH's house! I'm bringing the beano!
Thanks! I'll make us some drinks with the dark rum while we are waiting for the soup to finish. If I get any good at making this soup I'll try to learn to do fried plantains to go with it. Wouldn't that be yummy?
- #12
Evo
Staff Emeritus
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Oooh, and with enough rum, everything will taste good. 
With more rum, it won't matter if we forgot the beano. 
Mmmmm, fried plantains with rum.
With more rum, it won't matter if we forgot the beano. Mmmmm, fried plantains with rum.
- #13
Moonbear
Staff Emeritus
Science Advisor
Gold Member
- 11,959
- 54
I found a good recipe on a can of Progresso black beans...very easy. I have to do it from memory now, so I hope I get it right (it shouldn't be too hard since it's a simple recipe). In a sauce pan, saute chopped onion and a clove of garlic in some olive oil until soft, add oregano, salt and pepper, and a can of black beans. Cook. Serve over rice. Very easy, and tasty.
Black beans and rice are also great in wraps...add some lettuce, tomato, grated cheese, sour cream, and some cooked chicken, wrap it all up in a tortilla, and you'll have a very filling meal.
Black beans and rice are also great in wraps...add some lettuce, tomato, grated cheese, sour cream, and some cooked chicken, wrap it all up in a tortilla, and you'll have a very filling meal.
- #14
- 4,663
- 36
Moonbear, that sounds awesome - thanks! Here have a Cuba Libra! (hope I spelled that right)
Evo, this soup is working out so great. I didn't know how it was going to go using canned beans but dang! - it looks and smells fabulous! oohweee! I did add a little bit of celery because I needed to use up the little bit I had left.
Evo, this soup is working out so great. I didn't know how it was going to go using canned beans but dang! - it looks and smells fabulous! oohweee! I did add a little bit of celery because I needed to use up the little bit I had left.
- #15
Moonbear
Staff Emeritus
Science Advisor
Gold Member
- 11,959
- 54
Thanks! Cheers!
- #16
Evo
Staff Emeritus
- 24,114
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Cuba libre - thanks!
Celery sounds good, it's refreshing in soup.
Moonbear, that sounds yummy too!
Celery sounds good, it's refreshing in soup.
Moonbear, that sounds yummy too!
- #17
- 4,663
- 36
Hey, Tsu! Could you bring over some sour cream? I forgot it at the market.
- #18
Tsu
Gold Member
- 462
- 62
You've got it! Save me a BIG bowl of soup.
I'll get some linguisa to BBQ and some SD french bread to go with it, too! Linguisa goes GREAT with black bean soup! Got a green apple martini for me?
I'll get some linguisa to BBQ and some SD french bread to go with it, too! Linguisa goes GREAT with black bean soup! Got a green apple martini for me?
- #19
- 4,663
- 36
Sure - we can fix you a green apple martini! (besides - the rum's getting low - I cook Julia Child style - a little rum for the soup - annnnd a little rum for the cook! )
Dishing up the soup now.. oh, la la la.. I am drizzling it with rum, then stirring in the monterey jack cheese. Now I'll place a thin sliver of lime at the side. Now for a dollop of sour cream in each bowl, (thank you, Tsu). And thanks again to Evo for the wonderful recipe! Ooh, let's dig in!
)Dishing up the soup now.. oh, la la la.. I am drizzling it with rum, then stirring in the monterey jack cheese. Now I'll place a thin sliver of lime at the side. Now for a dollop of sour cream in each bowl, (thank you, Tsu
). And thanks again to Evo for the wonderful recipe! Ooh, let's dig in!- #20
Tsu
Gold Member
- 462
- 62
Oooooo YUM!