Black Bean Soup with Bacon & Sherry Recipe

Black bean soup with bacon and a splash of Sherry is truly a magical combination. Serve this as an appetizer or light main course.

The road to my husband's culinary heart is not a difficult one to follow. Contented sighs and groans of satisfaction are guaranteed with any meal that involves Mexican flavors, such as Rick Bayless' Smoky Peanut Mole with Pork Tenderloin, or black beans. While living in New York City, we ate a couple of memorable meals at Danny Meyer's acclaimed restaurant, Union Square Cafe. While this recipe is my own, I did borrow one of Union Square's serving ideas for their black bean soup. When the soup is brought to the table, a shot of sherry is offered. Stirred into the soup, the fortified wine lends a heady aroma and luxurious flavor. However, if you prefer to abstain, this soup is filled with layers of flavor that are sure to satisfy.

When I mentioned to my husband that I was going to make one of his favorites for dinner, his comment was, "How about with bacon?" Knowing that I am responsible for the majority of bacon consumption in our house, he knew this request would light up my eyes light a Christmas tree on a snowy night. The bacon is crumbled on top of the soup and an extra layer of smoky, salty flavor is achieved by cooking the vegetables in a couple of tablespoons of the bacon drippings. Besides some simple vegetable chopping, this soup takes very little effort to make. The vegetables are cooked until soft, then the black beans and broth are stirred in. The soup is then left to bubble away happily on the stovetop for half an hour. After a quick puree, it is ready to serve. If the soup is your main dish, serve with a green salad and a crusty loaf of bread to round out the meal.

How to make black bean soup with sherry:

Place 6 strips of bacon in a large nonstick skillet set over medium heat. Cook until the bacon is crisp. Set aside to drain on a piece of paper towel. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat.

Pour the reserved bacon fat into a large saucepan set over medium heat. Add onion and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is beginning to soften, about 3 minutes. Add celery, red jalapeno pepper, and green pepper.

Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softening, 3 to 5 minutes. Add ground cumin and black beans, and stir to combine with vegetables. Stir in chicken broth, increase the heat to medium-high, and bring the mixture to a boil. Lower heat to medium-low, partially cover the saucepan, and simmer for 30 minutes.

Remove the soup from the heat and let cool for 10 to 15 minutes. Only skip this step if you enjoy decorating your ceiling with hot soup. Using an immersion blender (or a blender or food processor - you will have to do this in batches), puree the soup until almost smooth. Be sure to leave some small pieces of black beans for texture.

Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with sour cream, bacon, and cilantro. If desired, pour a small shot (1 to 2 teaspoons) of dry sherry into each bowl and allow each person to stir it into the soup.

Other soups with black beans:

Cookin' Canuck's Crockpot Chicken, Black Bean & Chipotle Pepper Soup
Smitten Kitchen's Black Bean Pumpkin Soup
Kalyn's KItchen's Black Bean & Rice Soup with Lime & Cilantro
Three Many Cooks' Black Bean & Ham Bone Soup
Dine & Dish's Creamy Black Bean & Bacon Soup

Black Bean Soup with Bacon & Sherry

6 strips bacon
1 cup chopped onion (about 1 small onion)
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 stalks celery, chopped
2 teaspoon finely chopped red jalapeno, seeded & membranes removed, if desired
½ green bell pepper, chopped
1 teaspoon ground cumin
3 can (14.5 oz. each) black beans, drained and rinsed
3 cans (14.5 oz. each) low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
Sour cream
Cilantro
About ¼ cup dry sherry (optional)

Place 6 strips of bacon in a large nonstick skillet and set over medium heat. Cook until the bacon is crisp. Set aside to drain on a piece of paper towel. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat.

Pour the reserved bacon fat into a large saucepan set over medium heat. Add onion and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is beginning to soften, about 3 minutes. Add celery, red jalapeno pepper, and green pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softening, 3 to 5 minutes. Add ground cumin and black beans, and stir to combine with vegetables. Stir in chicken broth, increase the heat to medium-high, and bring the mixture to a boil. Lower heat to medium-low, partially cover the saucepan, and simmer for 30 minutes.

Remove the soup from the heat and let cool for 10 to 15 minutes. Using an immersion blender (or a blender or food processor - you will have to do this in batches), puree the soup until almost smooth. Be sure to leave some small pieces of black beans for texture.

Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with sour cream, bacon, and cilantro. If desired, pour a small shot (1 to 2 teaspoons) of dry sherry into each bowl and allow each person to stir it into the soup.

Serves 6 as appetizer or 4 as entree.

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