Bajan Black Bean Soup Recipe: A Taste of Barbados

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups dried black beans, soaked overnight
• 1 large or 2 small ham hocks
• 3 to 3 1/2 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
• 3/4 cup crème fraîche or sour cream
• salt
• grated rind and juice from one lemon