Old-fashioned Black Bean Soup

Total Time: 8 hrs 25 mins Preparation Time: 25 mins Cook Time: 8 hrs

Ingredients

• 1 lb dried black turtle bean, soaked overnight
• 1 ham bone or 1 ham hock
• 6 cups chicken broth or 6 cups water
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 medium yellow onions, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 1 teaspoon dried marjoram
• 1 bay leaf
• salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
• 1/2 cup dry sherry (optional)

Recipe

• 1 combine the drained beans, ham bone or hock, and broth in the slow cooker. cover and cook on high until boiling, about 1 hour.
• 2 meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. add the onions, garlic, and celery and cook, stirring a few times, until softened, about 5 minutes. add to the cooker along with the marjoram and bay leaf. cover, turn the cooker to low, and cook the soup for 7 to 8 hours.
• 3 stir in the salt, pepper, and sherry, cover, and continue to cook on low 15 minutes longer.
• 4 discard the bay leaf and ham bone, returning any bits of meat left on the bone to the soup. puree in batches in a food processor or in the cooker with a handheld immersion blender. taste to adjust the seasonings. add some boiling water to thin, if desired. ladle into soup bowls and serve hot.