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Soups and Stews


1 tablespoon olive oil
2 medium-size red onions, chopped
1 medium-size red bell pepper, chopped
1 medium-size green bell pepper, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
4 teaspoons ground cumin
4 cans beans (rinsed)
1 tablespoon chopped chipotle chiles from a can (this gives it a solid kick, dial back if you are wary or more if you like spicy)
7 cups hot water (if using hocks, use the water from the hocks)
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1-2 package ham hocks (optional but recommended)
1 piece ham cubed small

Toasted Cumin Seed Cr�me Fra�che
Hacked from Bobby Flay

1 tablespoon whole cumin seeds
1 cup crema or cr�me fra�che (or make your own crema, make your own cr�me fra�che, or swap sour cream or yogurt, for a close-enough taste)
Salt and freshly ground pepper
diced avocado (optional)


Cumin Creme Fraiche

Place the cumin in a small saut� pan over medium heat. Toast until lightly golden brown. Place in spice grinder or mortar and pestle and grind until coarse. Stir it into the creme and season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Soup
If using hocks, place the hocks in water and simmer 3-4 hours. Remove the hocks, and seperate the usable meat. Set the liquid aside.

Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and both bell peppers and saut� until beginning to brown, about eight minutes. Add garlic and cumin; stir one minute. Remove from heat, add beans and chipoltes and sufficient stock to cover (you can do this while the stock is still cooking) and let set at least 1 hour. After 1 hour, pour mixture into soup pot and add 3-4 cups of stock. Cover and simmer for at least 30 minutes add more stock if needed. Taste/season and using a hand blender puree about 2/3 of the mixture (to the desired texture). Add the ham and hock meat if using and let cook 15-30 minutes. Stir in lime juice, salt, and pepper. Adjust seasonings to taste. Ladle soup into bowls. Spoon dollop of toasted cumin seed cream (below) and avocado over each bowl and serve.

Unrated