Black Bean Soup

From Simply Recipes....again.  I have amended it a little for our tastes, the original recipes is here:
Read more: http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/black_bean_soup/#ixzz3rBz8NiXz

Ingredients

• 2 cans of black beans, drained
• 1 lb smoked ham hock or shank, or ham steak (not as good)
• 2 bay leaves
• 5 cups water
• 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 4 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 large yellow onion, chopped fine (2 cups)
• 1 medium sweet potato, chopped into 1/2-inch pieces (2 cups, chopped) (can substitute 2 large carrots)
• 1 carrot, chopped fine (1/2 cup)
• 1 celery rib, chopped fine (1/2 cup)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 medium garlic cloves, minced
• 1 Tbsp ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons chile powder
• 4 cups chicken stock (add 2 teaspoons of salt if using unsalted stock)
• 1 Tbsp molasses

 

• 3 to 4 Tbsp lime juice (can substitute lemon juice)
• Salt
• Sour cream
• Avocado, peeled and chopped

Method

1 Place beans and ham hock in a 4-quart, thick-bottomed pot. Add 5 cups water, bay leaves, salt and baking soda. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a low simmer. Cover and let cook 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes, until beans are tender. Remove bay leaves. Remove ham hock from the pot. Cut ham meat away from the bone and cut into small, bite-sized pieces, set aside.  OR, (if you re running short on time) cut up a ham steak into very a small dice, then saute. 
2  Heat olive oil in a large 8-quart thick-bottomed pot on medium high until the oil is hot, but not smoking. Add the onions, celery, carrot, sweet potato and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned and softened, about 10-15 minutes. Reduce heat to medium, add the cumin, chili powder, and garlic, cook for an additional 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
3 Add the beans, chicken stock, and molasses. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 20 to 30 minutes.
4  Use an immersion blender to purée just half of the soup.

Add back the ham pieces to the soup. Add 3 Tbsp of lime juice. Adjust seasonings. If on the sweet side, add a bit more lime juice. Salt to taste.

Read more: http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/black_bean_soup/#ixzz3rC0CXdEO