Black bean"cassoulet" soup

 
                        BLACK BEAN "CASSOULET" SOUP
 
 Recipe By     : 
 Serving Size  : 16   Preparation Time :0:00
 Categories    : Soups                            Vegetables
 
   Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
 --------  ------------  --------------------------------
    2       lb           Dried black (turtle) beans
    1 1/4   c            Best-quality olive oil
    3       c            Diced yellow onions
   12                    Cloves garlic, crushed
    1                    Very meaty ham bone or 2
                         -smoked ham hocks
    8       qt           Water
    3 1/2   tb           Ground cumin
    2       tb           Dried oregano
    3                    Bay leaves
    1       tb           Coarse (kosher) salt
    1       tb           Freshly ground black pepper
    1       pn           Cayenne pepper
    8       tb           Chopped fresh Italian
                         -parsley
    1 3/4                To 2 pounds fresh garlic
                         -sausage
    6                    Sweet Italian sausage links,
                         -cut into 1-inch pieces
    6                    Hot Italian sausage links,
                         -cut into 1-inch pieces
    1       lb           Bratwurst, cut into 1-inch
                         -pieces
    3                    Medium-size sweet red
                         -peppers, cored, seeded, and
                         -diced
      1/4   c            Dry sherry
    3       tb           Dark brown sugar
    2       tb           Fresh lemon juice
 
   From The Silver Palate Good Times Cookbook.
   
   " Our black bean soup is a Silver Palate staple.  In
   this recipe we've dressed it up with lots of hot and
   garlicky sausages, sweet red peppers, a bit of brown
   sugar, and unusual spices.  This makes a meal when
   served with a crisp, tart green salad."
   
   Sour cream
   
   1.  Soak the black beans in water to cover overnight.
   
   2.  Heat 1 cup of the oil in a large heavy stock pot
   over low heat. Add the onions and garlic and saute
   until the onions are limp, about 10 minutes.
   
   3.  Drain and rinse the beans and add to the stock
   pot.  Add the ham bone and 6 quarts of the water.
   Stir in the cumin, oregano, bay leaves, salt, pepper,
   cayenne, and 3 tablespoons of the parsely. Heat to
   boiling. Reduce heat to medium and cook uncovered at a
   slow rolling boil for 2 hours, skimming foam from the
   top and stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
   
   4.  Place the garlic sausage in a medium-size saucepan
   and add the remaining 2 quarts water.  Heat to
   boiling.  Reduce heat to low and simmer for 40
   minutes.  Drain.  Remove casings and cut into 1/2-inch
   slices.
   
   5.  Heat the remaining 1/4 cup oil in a large heavy
   skillet over medium heat.  Add the Italian sausages
   and saute until browned. Remove the sausages with a
   slotted spoon.
   
   6.  In the same skillet, saute the bratwurst until
   browned.  Remove with a slotted spoon.
   
   7.  After 2 hours of cooking, process 2 cups of the
   beans in a food processor fitted with a steel blade
   until smooth and return to the pot. Continue to cook
   for 30 minutes.
   
   8.  Add all the sausages and the red peppers and cook
   for another 30 minutes.
   
   9.  Remove the ham bone from the soup, shred the meat
   and return to the pot.  Stir in the sherry, sugar, and
   lemon juice.
   
   10.  Cook over medium heat until the beans are very
   soft and the soup is thick, 30 to 45 minutes.  Stir in
   the remaining 5 tablespoons chopped parsley.  Taste
   and adjust seasonings.
   
   11.  Ladle the soup into soup bowls and dollop each
   serving with sour cream.
   
   Makes 16 portions.
   
   Posted by Kyosho Connick. Courtesy of Fred Peters.
  
 
 
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