Sopa De Frijoles Negros

Preparation:

Preparation: This black bean soup is a classic of Cuban cuisine, but is usually eaten throughout Central America, where the use of beans is quite common. As far as preparation is concerned, the ideal would be to use black beans, which have a shape similar to that of cannellini beans but have a firmer skin and a more marked flavour. It is generally possible to find them in the best-stocked supermarkets. In the absence of black beans, pinto beans are also fine, even if the 'original' taste of the soup is somewhat lost. The original recipe calls for the use of dried black beans (to be left to soak the night before cooking); since it is very difficult to find them dry, you can use canned ones, taking care however to reduce cooking times: in fact, since they are already cooked, you risk obtaining a puree rather than a soup... This dish is excellent as a 'starter' before a dinner in full Central American style, but it can easily be eaten as a single dish on cold and long winter evenings. Drain the beans from the water in which they have been soaked for at least one night and immerse them in a saucepan with 2 liters of cold water; bring to a boil over high heat, then cook covered over medium-low heat for about an hour. Meanwhile, heat the oil, garlic and onions in a saucepan and fry for a few minutes, then add the pepper cut into small pieces and fry for a few more minutes. Then take a certain quantity of beans (equal to about a cup of tea) from the boiling pan, drain them and mix them together with the sautéed vegetables, stirring frequently and adding the white wine and vinegar. After a few minutes, add the contents of the saucepan to the pot of beans, salt and pepper to taste and add the bay leaf and cumin. Cover and cook for 1-2 hours over low heat, until the beans are cooked through and tender but not 'flaked'. Serve in soup bowls or deep plates and sprinkle with a little chopped onion. Taste hot and accompany with a good beer, preferably Central American, clear and with a clean taste.