Black Bean Soup

Also known as turtle beans, these black beans are adorned with green chiles
to heat things up, fresh tomatoes to cool things down, brown rice for
substance and a dash of sherry for culture.

1 1/2 cups brown rice
2 (15-ounce) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1 1/2 cups water
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup sliced celery
1 cup diced carrot
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 cups chicken broth
1 jalapeno, seeded and diced (see note)
1/2 cup bran
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon sherry
1/2 cup chopped green onion
1/2 cup seeded and chopped tomato

1.. Cook rice according to package directions; set aside.
2.. Meanwhile, reserve one-fourth of the black beans. Purée the remaining
beans with water in a blender or food processor; set aside.
3.. In a large stockpot, cook onions, celery and carrots in oil until
tender-crisp. Add broth, chiles, bran, pepper and the whole and puréed
beans. Simmer uncovered for 10 to 15 minutes.
4.. Remove from heat and stir in sherry. Serve with rice and garnish with
green onions and tomatoes.
Makes 8 servings.

Note: Working with jalapeños or other chiles: Capsaicin is the ingredient in
chiles that causes the burning sensation associated with fresh peppers. It's
a good idea to use rubber gloves when handling fresh chiles. (Disposable
surgical gloves, available at most drugstores, work best for this.) If you
choose not to use gloves, be extremely careful not to touch any part of your
body, especially your eyes. After you've finished handling the chiles, wash
your knife and cutting board with hot soapy water to ensure that there is no
carry-over to other foods that may come in contact with the peppers.

"William Asher" wrote in message
om...
When I used to live in the Washington DC area (15 years ago), I would
buy 1 lb bags of Black Turtle Beans - most likely at Giant Food. The
packages had a wonderful recipe for Black Turtle Bean soup, involving
sauteing carrots, celery and onions, and shredding up potatoes, and of
course the ubiquitous bay leaf. I probably could make it up, but I'd
feel more secure if I could find the recipe. Of course black beans
are readily available in Michigan, where I now live, but I can't find
that recipe.

Does anybody have it? Thanks.