Black bean soup (aztec or yucateca style)

1 Batch

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
1poundsBlack beans
10cups;Water
4teaspoonsSalt; divided
1Bell pepper, green; cored & halved
cupOil
1largeOnion, yellow; peeled & sliced
4Garlic clove; minced
1Chile serrano; seeded & halved
½teaspoonPepper, black
tablespoonMexican chocolate; crumbled
1Bay leaf
teaspoonCumin, ground
1teaspoonSugar
tablespoonWine vinegar, red
tablespoonOlive oil

Directions

Rinse beans and soak overnight, along with 1 tsp salt and bell pepper. In a 6-quart stewpan, bring beans, soaking water, & pepper to a boil. Simmer till tender (really tender). Heat peanut oil in deep frying pan. Saute onion, garlic and green hot pepper till soft.

Remove 2½ cups bean broth from pot and add to frypan. Simmer 10 minutes. Strain onions, garlic & hot peppers from broth and discard them. Remove bell pepper & discard. Add seasoned broth to soup pot.

Add all other ingre- dients except vinegar and olive oil to soup pot and simmer 1 ½ hours till thick. If too thick, add water. Add vinegar and olive oil before serving.