# Finding Spanish bean (garbanzo bean) soup in Miami **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 1, 2006, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-spanish-bean-garbanzo-bean-soup-in-miami/362860 "2006-07-01T14:40:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2006, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-spanish-bean-garbanzo-bean-soup-in-miami/362860/1 "2006-07-01T14:40:33Z")
My very favorite item of Cuban cuisine is garbanzo bean soup, also known as Spanish bean soup (made with garbanzo beans (chickpeas), potatoes, ham and chorizo sausages). There were several Cuban restaurants in Tampa whose garbanzo bean soup I used to enjoy. But I’ve been living in the Miami area two months now and I can’t find it on the menu of any Cuban eatery. Any theories as to why? Any suggestions as to where I might find some? ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2006, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-spanish-bean-garbanzo-bean-soup-in-miami/362860/2 "2006-07-01T14:53:36Z")
I’ve never had (or seen) a Cuban version, but it sounds an awful lot like Spanish [cocido.](http://www.multimadrid.com/recipes/cocido.htm) If you miss it that much, why don’t you just make it yourself? It’s a slow-cooked thing, almost impossible to screw up, even if you’re not an experienced cook. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2006, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-spanish-bean-garbanzo-bean-soup-in-miami/362860/3 "2006-07-01T15:15:41Z")
[QUOTE=Eva Luna] I’ve never had (or seen) a Cuban version, but it sounds an awful lot like Spanish [cocido.](http://www.multimadrid.com/recipes/cocido.htm) [/QUOTE] No . . . Spanish bean soup has no chicken, cabbage or turnips. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2006, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-spanish-bean-garbanzo-bean-soup-in-miami/362860/4 "2006-07-01T15:24:54Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] No . . . Spanish bean soup has no chicken, cabbage or turnips. [/QUOTE] Well, there are a ton of _cocido_ recipes out there - I ate vats of it when I was studying in Spain in college, and the common ingredients were garbanzos, _morcilla,_ some other kind of meat, and onions. Íf you’re culinarily inclined, I’m sure you could experiment until you came up with something you liked, and even the experiments would probably all taste reasonably good. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2006, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-spanish-bean-garbanzo-bean-soup-in-miami/362860/5 "2006-07-01T15:43:22Z")
[QUOTE=Eva Luna] If you miss it that much, why don’t you just make it yourself? [/QUOTE] Sloth is my besetting sin. Actually, I have made it for myself, using an excellent recipe from [_Clarita’s Cocina_](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0942084748/sr=8-1/qid=1151768556/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-5786274-5521516?ie=UTF8) by Clarita Garcia. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2006, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-spanish-bean-garbanzo-bean-soup-in-miami/362860/6 "2006-07-03T00:39:05Z")
Does anybody have a theory or WAG? As to why Cuban restaurants in Tampa, but not (so far as I can find) Miami, serve this soup?