[recipe] Cuban Black Bean Soup ~ vegan

[Guest guest]

This is what I am making for dinner tonight. The only

thing is I don't have any dark rum in the house. I only

drink the occasional glass of wine or beer and wasn't

sure what other cooking I might do with a bottle of dark

rum. Does anyone here cook with it ever? Do you think it

might make my recipe taste better with it? Is there some

non-alcoholic ingredient with a similar flavor to dark rum

that I could use a bit of instead? I was wondering if a bit

of molasses might do the trick? TIA for any ideas or help.

 

Cuban Black Bean Soup

 

1 1/2 cups dried black beans, picked over and rinsed

8 cups water

2 bay leaves

1 Tbs olive oil

1 large red onion, chopped

1 medium size carrot, chopped

1 small red bell pepper, seeded and chopped

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 small, fresh hot chile, seeded and minced

1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained

6 cups vegetable stock or water

1 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp cayenne (optional)

1/4 cup dark rum (optional)

2 Tbs minced fresh cilantro for garnish

 

1. Soak the beans in water for several hours or overnight.

 

2. Drain beans and transfer to a large pot. Add the water and

bay leaves and bring to a boil over medium heat, Reduce heat

to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the beans are soft, about

1 1/2 hours. Stir occasionally, skimming off any foam that rises to

the top. Drain the beans, discard the bay leaves, and set the beans

aside.

 

3. Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion,

carrot, bell pepper, garlic, and chile. Cover and cook until

softened,

about 5 minutes. Add the juice from the tomatoes, then mince the

tomatoes and add to the pan. Stir in the beans, stock, oregano,

cumin,

salt and cayenne (if using). Simmer for 30 minutes.

 

4. Carefully transfer 2 cups of the soup to a blender or food

processor.

Process until smooth and return to the pot. Add a little water if the

soup

is too thick. Simmer for 15 minutes to blend flavors. Taste and

adjust

the seasonings.

 

5. About 5 minutes before serving, stir in the dark rum (if using).

Serve

hot, garnished with the cilantro.

 

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

 

Vegan Planet; pg.82

 

~ PT ~

 

You cannot help men permanently by doing for them

what they could and should do for themselves.

~ Abraham Lincoln