Black Bean Soup – SIMMER + SAUCE

Ingredients

• 1 pound black turtle beans, rinsed and picked over to remove debris
• 2 tablespoons Extra Virgin olive oil
• 1/2 cup celery, diced
• 1 cup carrots, diced
• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 4 garlic cloves, smashed
• 1 jalapeño pepper, desteemed and deseeded
• 4 plum tomatoes, roughly chopped
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 3 sprigs fresh thyme
• 2 bay leafs
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 5 cups chicken or vegetable stock, divided
• 3 cups cold water
• 1 cup cooked yellow rice (optional for garnish)
• 1/2 cup queso fresco, crumbled, for garnish (optional)
• 1/2 yellow onion, sliced (for garnish)
• Fresh chives, finely chopped (for garnish)