Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil olive
  • 1/2 pound salt pork diced
  • 1 pound ham hock
  • 8 large onions chopped
  • 6 each garlic cloves
  • 6 each celery stalks chopped
  • 2 pounds beans black
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper cayenne
  • 4 teaspoons cumin ground
  • 4 cans chicken broth
  • 1/4 cup vinegar wine
  • 1 cup sherry dry

Method

  • Heat oil in a 10 to 12 quart pan over medium heat.
  • Add salt pork, ham, onion, garlic, celery.
  • Cook, stirring occasionally, until vegs.
  • are very soft and lightly browned.
  • Rinse and sort beans, drain, and add to pan along with red pepper, cumin and broth.
  • Bring to a boil over high heat; reduce heat, cover and simmer until bean mash easily--2 to 3 hrs.
  • Shred meat andamp; return to pan--discard skin andamp; bones.
  • Skim and discard fat from soup.
  • Whirl soup, a portion at a time, in blender or food processor until smooth.
  • Stop here if serving next day.
  • Cover and refrigerate.
  • Return soup to pot and heat to steaming, stirring often.
  • Blend in vinegar and sherry.
  • Pass condiments at table to add to individual servings.