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Black Bean Pumpkin Soup

(recipe, Katie Hickey)

Introduction

This soup is phenomenal. Originally from Smitten Kitchen.

Ingredients

1. Three 15½ ounce cans black beans (about 4½ cups), rinsed and drained
2. 1 cup drained canned tomatoes, chopped
3. 1¼ cups chopped onion
4. ½ cup minced shallot
5. 4 garlic cloves minced
6. 1 Tbsp. plus 2 teaspoons ground cumin
7. 1 tsp. salt
8. ½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper
9. ½ stick (¼ cup) unsalted butter
10. 4 cups beef broth
11. a 16-ounce can pumpkin puree (about 1½ cups)
12. ½ cup dry Sherry
13. ½ lb. cooked ham, cut into ⅛-inch dice
14. 3 to 4 Tbsp. Sherry vinegar
15. Garnish: sour cream and coarsely chopped lightly toasted pumpkin seeds

Steps

1. In a food processor coarsely puree beans and tomatoes.
2. In a 6-quart heavy kettle cook onion, shallot, garlic, cumin, salt, and pepper in butter over moderate heat, stirring, until onion is softened and beginning to brown. Stir in bean puree. Stir in broth, pumpkin, and Sherry until combined and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, 25 minutes, or until thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
3. Just before serving, add ham and vinegar and simmer soup, stirring, until heated through. Season soup with salt and pepper.
4. Serve soup garnished with sour cream and toasted pumpkin seeds.