Sunday, February 20, 2011

Spicy Black Bean Soup!

Joining Mary's Mosaic Monday. For more mosaic's stop by the Little Red House!

Any time is good time for soup as far as we're concerned, so this was as good a time as any to make Black Bean Soup. Spicy Black Bean Soup! I had a recipe from way back that we loved. Trouble was I couldn't find it. Asked around, looked on the internet and just threw stuff in the pot! And we have a winnah! Garnished with fried polenta, thought that would be good. Since it's made from corn, maybe it would be a nice change from tortilla chips. I was wrong. They sunk. Not stunk. SUNK! To the bottom of the bowl. Tortilla chips were much better in this instance. But the polenta cut-outs tasted great fried up in the pan!




We liked fried polenta, but they'd be much better dipped in marinara instead. I used a star pastry cutter to make the shape, from sliced polenta in a tube.

 If it's too spicy, just mix the sour cream right into the soup, to make it a bit creamier. 

Garnish with chips, lime, salsa, jalapeño rings, whatever you like!


Spicy Black Bean Soup
adapted: There's Always Thyme to Cook
Printable Recipe

2 tablespoons olive oil
3 15-oz cans black beans, do not drain
1 medium onion, chopped
1 shallot, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 to 1 whole jalapeño, chopped (without seeds)
1 whole poblano pepper, seeded and sliced
juice of 1 lime
1 tablespoon ground cumin
4 cups chicken stock or broth

cilantro, to taste
sour cream
tortilla chips
fire-roasted salsa
pickled jalapeño rings

Heat the oil in heavy, large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion, shallot, garlic, poblano, jalapeño, and cumin. Sauté until onion and pepper are tender, about 5 to 10 minutes. Add the stock, and bring to a boil. Add the beans. Bring soup back to boil, then reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer until flavors blend, about 20-30 minutes. Puree soup with an immersion blender. Be careful, it'll be very, very hot. Mix in some cilantro. Season soup to taste with salt and pepper. Squeeze in the juice of one lime. Stir. Ladle soup into bowls. Top with dollop of sour cream, salsa and tortilla chips. Sprinkle with cilantro. Garnish with lime slice and jalapeño rings.


And joining Torview's Food Palette Series in Black!

36 comments:

  1. Another snowstorm is coming tomorrow -- a good time to ake spicy black bean soup! The polenta garnish sounds good. I wouldn't mind if they sink to the bottom as long as they taste good
    :0)

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  2. Really cute star polenta ~ they look just as fun served along side as in the bowl!

    I am making 15-bean soup tomorrow. Always love soup!

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  3. Hi Carol! This sounds so good! Love the polenta idea..even though they didn't float! They would be great along side! Happy week!...hugs...Debbie

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  4. I've never seen fried polenta! Yum! I love black bean soup, this looks so delicious! Love the flavors.

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  5. We love black bean soup. I like the fact that you can use canned beans too.

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  6. On a chilly day like today this must have tasted great! I like your star shaped polenta, too.
    ~Judy

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  7. ooh, this really looks so good and i love the stars!

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  8. Was Grandma able to eat it or did she just use half a carton of sour cream!! Sounds delish, I am getting to like black beans in varioud dishes. Polenta is something I have never had - probably cuz you just don't find it much in these here parts!! lol Didn't know you could get it premade in a tube..something I could handle.

    Good job Toots! Photo makes it very inviting..

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  9. I love all the garnishes, but had never thought of fried polenta!

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  10. Yum! I like bean soups and this one sounds GREAT!

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  11. We love black bean soup, but I rarely make it...it always comes out looking like mud...we love fried polenta. Howard would eat it every day of the week if I made it!

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  12. Oh wonderful Carol and I just happen to have some polenta. I've never thought of frying it an using it as a garnish in soup!

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  13. I love black bean anything! Thanks for this recipe. Polenta ...Yum!

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  14. Your soup is similar to my recipe but much spicer. Too bad the polenta stars didn't float, they would have looked neat on top.

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  15. One of my FAVORITE soups! Bravo! Blessings, Catherine

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  16. I've never tried black bean soup, but it looks delish...thanks for the recipe :)

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  17. I love black beans and make them with rice but I never think of making soup! I'd like to try this! Sounds good...right now! ♥

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  18. It all looks beautiful. It's a confident cook who can explain her mistakes so that no one else will make them. Thanks!

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  19. Love spicy black bean soup. Sounds so yummy.

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  20. I have never tried this soup. Looks amazing.

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  21. This is getting me all excited about winter! I am so sick of summer of here in Australia and I can't wait to eat soups and casseroles again!

    Best wishes,
    Natasha.

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  22. Looks delicious!!! Wishing you well! Cathy

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  23. OMG, my mouth is watering! Today would be a great soup day -- snowing to beat the band right now... :)

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  24. I am such a huge fan of soup and this is one I have not yet tried. Thanks for the recipe. We love Baked Tostitos Scoops with our soup.

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  25. Perfect soup for the deepfreeeze we are in. Made and reviewed your Spinach dip; fantastic!
    Rita

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  26. Mmmm, fried polenta. I love soup, this looks yummy.

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  27. Never had black bean soup but it looks so darn good. Very yummy Carol. I know hubby would love it since he loves spicy food.

    Have a great week ahead.

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  28. Cute stars. I love black bean soup and those polenta stars would be yummy!

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  29. This soup is delicious and I love the polenta stars you made. It is a must for a cold weather!

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  30. Did Gma eat that? :)
    Sounds like a good meal for your family!

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  31. Looks good! Thanks for sharing the recipe!

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  32. looks delicious. thanks for sharing your recipe. i love to cook too.
    The Park Bench

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  33. We love anything spicy and anything with black beans This looks great!

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  34. healthy soup looks fabulous and flavourful
    thank you for linking
    food palette series black

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