# Want to help improve my ridiculous black bean soup recipe? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 26, 2011, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-help-improve-my-ridiculous-black-bean-soup-recipe/597604 "2011-09-26T00:49:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![papergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aca169/32.png) [@papergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/papergirl)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-help-improve-my-ridiculous-black-bean-soup-recipe/597604/1 "2011-09-26T00:49:14Z")
I have to admit, I’m not terribly picky about black bean soup…I love black beans so much that I’ve been pretty easy to please. So my super-secret super-easy recipe is as follows: A few cans of black beans A can of broth (or homemade, if I have it). More as needed. Chopped onions and maybe a few carrots Salsa–about 1/2 jar to every 2 cans of beans Diced chicken or sausage, or both It’s good, and I can’t complain…super-easy, and tasty as well. I like my soup beany and don’t want to blend or mash the beans. Otherwise, I’m open to suggestions. Any ideas to make it nicer? ---
**Author:** ![mac\_bolan00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b3f665/32.png) [@mac\_bolan00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mac_bolan00)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-help-improve-my-ridiculous-black-bean-soup-recipe/597604/2 "2011-09-26T00:54:18Z")
you like garlic? add tomatoes and garlic, and maybe chopped celery in the end just before you turn off the heat. ---
**Author:** ![Troppus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@Troppus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troppus)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-help-improve-my-ridiculous-black-bean-soup-recipe/597604/3 "2011-09-26T01:05:41Z")
Very similar to my recipe, papergirl, but I also add chili powder and a few tablespoons of chopped jalapenos or a can of green chilis, and sprinkle with mexi-cheese at serving time. The vinegar in the peppers brightens the flavor, and the dairy cheese or vegan cheese makes it a bit richer. Actually, I bought a can of Amy’s Black Bean soup years ago, and I’ve been riffing off her recipe for years. Oh, and corn! Some whole kernal corn is a great touch of sweetness. ---
**Author:** ![papergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aca169/32.png) [@papergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/papergirl)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-help-improve-my-ridiculous-black-bean-soup-recipe/597604/4 "2011-09-26T01:17:37Z")
Mmmm, garlic. I loves me some garlic. Good suggestions so far, and not too worky. Just what I like in a recipe! ---
**Author:** ![davey77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90ced4/32.png) [@davey77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davey77)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-help-improve-my-ridiculous-black-bean-soup-recipe/597604/5 "2011-09-26T02:04:33Z")
You might try adding some ground cumin, too. ---
**Author:** ![fifty-six](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@fifty-six](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fifty-six)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-help-improve-my-ridiculous-black-bean-soup-recipe/597604/6 "2011-09-26T02:16:26Z")
Use dried beans. Vastly superior to canned and well worth the extra time. ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-help-improve-my-ridiculous-black-bean-soup-recipe/597604/7 "2011-09-26T02:25:17Z")
> [@fifty-six](#): > > Use dried beans. Vastly superior to canned and well worth the extra time. +1 - and a lot cheaper too. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-help-improve-my-ridiculous-black-bean-soup-recipe/597604/8 "2011-09-26T02:30:05Z")
> [@fifty-six](#): > > Use dried beans. Vastly superior to canned and well worth the extra time. This. And if we’re talking black beans, it’s not even all that much more time to cook; black beans generally cook from dry in an hour and a half or so, without soaking or pre-cooking. Aside from that, my thoughts are: - Bacon or other smoked meats - Toppings: black bean soup calls for yumyums on top. Mix and match cilantro (if you like it), diced onions, diced tomatoes, diced hot chiles, cheese, plain yogurt or sour cream, bacon bits, corn kernels, hot sauce. Heck, whatever you have lying around in the fridge. ---
**Author:** ![mac\_bolan00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b3f665/32.png) [@mac\_bolan00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mac_bolan00)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-help-improve-my-ridiculous-black-bean-soup-recipe/597604/9 "2011-09-26T02:35:27Z")
actually, i prefer black-eyed brown beans with pork hocks (or maybe the spine) with lots of garlic and tomatoes. ---
**Author:** ![Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/278dde/32.png) [@Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runs_With_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-help-improve-my-ridiculous-black-bean-soup-recipe/597604/10 "2011-09-26T02:36:34Z")
Add some heat. An easy way is the hot version of canned diced green chiles. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-help-improve-my-ridiculous-black-bean-soup-recipe/597604/11 "2011-09-26T02:43:19Z")
> [@Runs\_With\_Scissors](#): > > Add some heat. An easy way is the hot version of canned diced green chiles. Sriracha is the perfect sauce for black bean soup. You get the heat and the garlic. Use it liberally and top with sour cream to cut the heat. ---
**Author:** ![Shark\_Sandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Shark\_Sandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shark_Sandwich)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-help-improve-my-ridiculous-black-bean-soup-recipe/597604/12 "2011-09-26T03:27:52Z")
I like some textural differences with my beans. Corn tortilla strips do this nicely. ---
**Author:** ![Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/278dde/32.png) [@Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runs_With_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-help-improve-my-ridiculous-black-bean-soup-recipe/597604/13 "2011-09-26T03:33:16Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > Sriracha is the perfect sauce for black bean soup. You get the heat and the garlic. Use it liberally and top with sour cream to cut the heat. Are you coming on to me? ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-help-improve-my-ridiculous-black-bean-soup-recipe/597604/14 "2011-09-26T04:42:50Z")
> [@fifty-six](#): > > Use dried beans. Vastly superior to canned and well worth the extra time. This AGAIN. Plus you really do need some sort of smoked pork. Sour cream is great, cheese is great, but you need the ham or ham hocks or bacon. Also, corn muffins. Can’t have beans without some sort of corn, and I think that muffins are best, followed by tortilla chips or Fritos. Warm corn tortillas with butter are also good, but corn muffins are the very best. ---
**Author:** ![papergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aca169/32.png) [@papergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/papergirl)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-help-improve-my-ridiculous-black-bean-soup-recipe/597604/15 "2011-09-26T11:00:16Z")
You know, I tried to make dried black beans once. I cooked the damn things for DAYS and they never softened enough to be palatable, and I’ve been afraid to try it again. 🙂 But maybe I’ll pick some up next shopping trip and try it again. I do have ham and bacon…I have a strong belief that bacon improves anything, so maybe I’ll add some of that as well. There’s a local restaurant that always serves crusty (white) bread with butter with their black bean soup. I’ve never even thought about corn bread, but again…I do love some corn bread. (Realizing there is not much I don’t love, at this point.) Sounds great so far. I can’t wait to cook now! ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-help-improve-my-ridiculous-black-bean-soup-recipe/597604/16 "2011-09-26T12:23:23Z")
> [@papergirl](#): > > You know, I tried to make dried black beans once. I cooked the damn things for DAYS and they never softened enough to be palatable, and I’ve been afraid to try it again. 🙂 That happens sometimes. The most common culprits: - Old and/or badly grown beans. Try to buy your beans from a place that goes through them quickly - Mexican/Hispanic markets are good for that, and even if you don’t have a Mexican market, I tend to have good luck with Mexican brands in my own (very much NOT Mexican) grocery store. - Hard water: High calcium levels will prevent beans from ever softening. If you suspect you have hard water, try cooking the beans in distilled water. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-help-improve-my-ridiculous-black-bean-soup-recipe/597604/17 "2011-09-26T12:28:14Z")
Try building the base, simply reduce the salcion, _before adding the broth amd beans_. Start the chicken in onions, garlic, and mild green chiles, in some oil as a carrier. Add the wetter ingredients like the salsa and beans, after you have reduced and developed some “dry” caramelization and a flavor base. Got some cominos, chile powder, or chili powder? ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-help-improve-my-ridiculous-black-bean-soup-recipe/597604/18 "2011-09-26T13:58:25Z")
> [@papergirl](#): > > You know, I tried to make dried black beans once. I cooked the damn things for DAYS and they never softened enough to be palatable, and I’ve been afraid to try it again. Another thing is to make sure you don’t add any acid to the beans (tomatoes, lime juice, salsa etc.) until after they’ve softened. ---
**Author:** ![papergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aca169/32.png) [@papergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/papergirl)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-help-improve-my-ridiculous-black-bean-soup-recipe/597604/19 "2011-09-27T18:31:17Z")
I am, right this moment, doing a quick soak on 2 pounds of dry black beans. I’m going to try them from scratch. (Luckily I have about 10 cans in the pantry in case I need backup.) I also went to the store to buy a hamhock, whereupon I realized that I don’t even know what a hamhock is, much less what it looks like. I finally asked the butcher and told him some of my friends said I MUST have a hamhock. He nodded knowingly and said, “Welp, okay. There ya go, then,” so I’m guessing he must have agreed. Then I’m going to add sausage and the ham from the hock and maybe chicken depending on what I have in the freezer. I’m going to use the techniques **devilsknew** recommends–that’s what I did for the West African chicken stew I made last week and it was niiiiice. Got some green chiles (mild ones, 'cause I’m a weenie) per several suggestions, and cumin because I have some and I’m in love with it. **Lamar** , I don’t know what sriracha is. But it sounds sexy and I’ll research it and find some, just to say I have it. 🙂 Toppings optional. I have all of the ones mentioned, but I like mine plain. Weird, I know. Thanks for all the suggestions…will let you know how it turns out, and of course everyone will have to come by and try a bowl. ---
**Author:** ![cuberdon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/45deac/32.png) [@cuberdon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuberdon)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-help-improve-my-ridiculous-black-bean-soup-recipe/597604/20 "2011-09-27T19:00:21Z")
> [@papergirl](#): > > **Lamar** , I don’t know what sriracha is. But it sounds sexy and I’ll research it and find some, just to say I have it. 🙂 Hot sauce in a squeeze bottle, typically found in Vietnamese restaurants: > **[Sriracha](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sriracha_sauce)** > > Sriracha (/siːˈrɑːtʃə/ see-RAH-chə or /sɪˈrɑːtʃə/ si-RAH-chə; Thai: ศรีราชา, .mw-parser-output .IPA-label-small{font-size:85%}.mw-parser-output .references .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .infobox .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .navbox .IPA-label-small{font-size:100%}pronounced \[sǐːrāːtɕʰāː\] ⓘ) is a type of hot sauce or chili sauce made from a paste of chili peppers, distilled vinegar, pickled garlic, sugar, and salt. It was first produced in 1932 by a native of Si Racha, a town and dis Can be found in the “Oriental Foods” aisle of the supermarket, or pretty much any store in whatever passes for the local Chinatown. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-help-improve-my-ridiculous-black-bean-soup-recipe/597604.md?page=2)