100gmbaconchopped 3.5 oz or crisped pancetta *optional
Instructions
Heat a large pot add the oil, onion, bacon, carrot and garlic and cook without colouring
Add the spices, celery salt and oregano. Cook till fragrant.
Add the black beans liquid and all. Add the tomato passata and chicken stock
Simmer for 15 minutes or till reduced by 1/4. If you want to garnish your soup with bacon or pancetta prepare it now and set aside
Puree the soup till smooth. This is best done with a stick blender however you can put it into a blender or food processor
Serve the soup with a slice of avocado, extra bacon and chopped tomato or just a swirl of sour cream
Notes
Blackbean soup does not traditionally have tomato in it. A slow-cooked black bean soup made with dried beans is extra delicious but takes many hours of cooking. So you can experience this lovely soup I've put it on fast forward adding lots of extra quick flavour by adding tomato
If you can't get tomato passata add tomato juice or peeled tomatoes.
Add 2 bay leaves if you have some. This gives a lovely depth of flavour
You can serve this soup with a swirl of sour cream or aioli
Garnish the soup with extra fried bacon pieces or a nice slice of grilled pancetta or smoked spek
If celery is available use 3 sticks finely diced and add with the onion and carrot instead of using celery salt
Finish with a swirl it with sour cream or aioli
**Do you want to make this soup Vegan or vegetarian?.
Follow the recipe omitting the bacon. Instead add in 1 finely chopped green capsicum and 3 sticks of celery finely diced to the ingredients in the recipe above. A bayleaf really brings out the bean flavour too. Use vegetable stock or cubes in place of chicken stock. ALSO a great way to add salty lovely flavour is to add 1 cup of yeast flakes. You will find these in the heathfood action of the supermarket. Stir them into your soup when you add the beans and tomato.