Black Bean Soup Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 pound dried black beans, rinsed and picked over and soaked in water to cover overnight
• 1 large bay leaf
• 1 medium green bell pepper, chopped
• For the sofrito:
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, preferably Spanish
• 4 large garlic clove, finely chopped
• 1 large onion, finely chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)
• 1 large green bell pepper, seeded and finely chopped (about 1 cup)
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon (or more) finely chopped, seeded, tiny hot green or red chili peppers
• 8 cups cooked white rice
• Chopped raw onion
• Shredded Monterey Jack, crumbled queso blanco, or American farmer cheese
• Pico de gallo or pickled, sliced jalepenos
• Pico de Gallo:
• 2 large tomatoes, cored and cut into 1/4-inch cubes (about 2 cups)
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped (about 1 cup)
• 2 jalepeno peppers, seeded and finely chopped (less than 1/4 cup)
• 2 - 4 tablespoons finely chopped coriander (cilantro)
• 1 small green bell pepper, cut into 1/4-inch dice (about 3/4 cup)
• 1 or 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• Juice of 2 limes
• 1/2 teaspoon salt