Bajan Black Bean Soup Recipe: A Taste of Barbados

Ingredients

• 2.5 cups dried black beans , soaked overnight
• 1 large or 2 small ham hocks
• 3 to 3.5 qt (3.31 liters) water
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 2 to 3 large onions
• 4 cloves garlic
• 3 small fresh chile peppers ( jalapenos preferred)
• 8 berries allspice , coarsely crushed
• 2 tsp brown sugar (or 1 tsp molasses )
• 3 tbsp tomato paste
• 0.75 cup crème fraîche or sour cream
• salt
• grated rind and juice from one lemon