Patty's Mom's Black Bean Soup

This is a simple recipe, yet it is the best black bean soup I've tried. I have been lucky to get home smoked ham, and used the bone from it. I've also made it with smoked ham hocks I've gotten from the butcher. Of course the home smoked ham makes the soup superlative, the butcher bone made it wonderful. Either way, I think you'll enjoy it. It can be made spicy if that's the way you prefer it. It can also be topped with sour cream.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 3 hr
• Total Time: 3 hr 30 mins
• Calories: 345 Calories

Ingredients

• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon margarine
• ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
• ⅔ cup dry sherry
• 2 bay leaves
• 3 stalks celery, chopped
• 3 onions, chopped
• 8 cups water
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
• 2 cups dry black beans
• 1 smoked ham bone (with some meat on it)

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Soak the beans overnight in a pan of water.

Step 2

Drain off the soaking water. Simmer beans in 8 cups of water until soft.

Step 3

While the beans are cooking, saute the chopped onion and celery in margarine until golden. Add the vegetables to the soup pot along with bay leaves, parsley, salt, pepper, and ham bone. Cook over medium heat for 3 hours, adding water if needed.

Step 4

After the beans are cooked and soft, remove the ham. Set aside. Cool soup, and puree in batches. Return the soup to the pot, and add dry sherry.

Step 5

Cut the meat off the bone, and add the meat to the soup. Cook over low heat until warmed through, and adjust seasonings.