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Cold Cherry Soup

Ingredients

Espinacas con Garbanzos (Spinach with Garbanzo Beans)

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 large white onion, diced

1 (10 ounce) box frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained well

1 (12 ounce) can garbanzo beans, drained
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt

Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium-low heat. Cook the garlic and onion in the oil until translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the spinach, garbanzo beans, cumin, and salt. Use your stirring spoon to lightly mash the beans as the mixture cooks. Allow to cook until thoroughly heated.

Source: Allrecipes.com

Amolesili Lobio (Stewed Red Beans and Walnuts)

A creamy puree of toasted walnuts adds richness and depth to this hearty kidney bean stew. See the recipe for Amolesili Lobio »Landon Nordeman

A creamy puree of toasted walnuts adds richness and depth to this hearty kidney bean stew.

Find this recipe in our cookbook, SAVEUR: Soups and Stews
Yield: serves 6-8

Ingredients

1 cup toasted walnuts
1/2 cup olive oil
6 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 medium carrot, finely chopped
1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
1 small red Holland chile, stemmed, seeded, and finely chopped
1/2 small leek, finely chopped
2 tsp. coriander seeds
1 tsp. hot paprika
1 lb. dried dark red kidney beans, soaked overnight and drained
12 cups chicken stock
1/2 cup finely chopped cilantro
1/4 cup finely chopped dill
1/4 cup finely chopped parsley
2 tbsp. red wine vinegar
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Country bread, for serving

Instructions

Place walnuts and half the oil in a food processor; puree until very smooth, about 2 minutes, and set aside. Heat remaining oil in a 6-qt. saucepan over medium-high heat. Add garlic, carrots, onions, chiles, and leeks; cook, stirring until golden, about 10 minutes. Add coriander and paprika; cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add beans and stock; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium, cook, slightly covered, until beans are very tender, 2-2 1/2 hours. Using a ladle, transfer half the beans to a blender; puree until smooth and return to pot. Stir in walnut puree, cilantro, dill, parsley, vinegar, salt, and pepper; serve with bread on the side.

https://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Amolesili-Lobio-Stewed-Red-Beans-and-Walnuts/

Despite being pickled, these chiles have a fresh crunch and bright, garlicky flavor. If you cook them, they lose that; add them to finished dishes, particularly pizzas. This recipe is from Joe Beddia, the dough master behind Philadelphia’s cult favorite, Pizzeria Beddia.

Minestra di patate e peperoni rossi – red pepper, tomato and potato soup

Prep 15 min
Cook (including resting) 1 hr 25 min
Serves 4

6-8 tbsp olive oil
1 red onion, peeled and sliced
Salt and black pepper
1 large potato (about 400g), peeled and diced
2 large red peppers, deseeded and diced
2 large tomatoes, peeled, deseeded and roughly chopped
1 handful spinach or chard
Red-wine vinegar (optional)

Put the olive oil, onion and a pinch of salt in a large, heavy-based pan over a medium-low heat. Cook, stirring for five minutes.

Add the potato, peppers and tomatoes, and cook for a few minutes more, stirring so all the ingredients are coated with oil.

Add 1.2 litres of water, bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for an hour, adding the spinach or chard in the last 10 minutes if you are including it.

Add salt and pepper to taste, and a little red-wine vinegar if you wish. Let the soup sit for 15 minutes before serving warm.

From The Guardian

Serves 2 as a main or 4 as a starter
fresh coriander (cilantro)  1 bunch
tomatoes 3 medium
green chillies 1-2
ginger ½ thumb (optional)
dried adzuki beans 200g
onion 1, peeled and sliced
olive oil 1 tbsp
xawaash spice blend 1 dsp (see below)
tomato paste 1 level dsp, or to taste
salt to taste

For the xawaash spice mix (makes about 35g or 4 heaped dsp)
cumin seeds 2 dsp
coriander seeds 2 dsp
black peppercorns 1 dsp
flat cinnamon bark 2cm piece
cardamom seeds 1 tsp
whole cloves 1 tsp

To make the xawaash, dry heat all the spices in a frying pan on a medium heat for about 2 minutes or until they begin to give off a lovely warm aroma. Once you can smell this, take it off the heat.

Use a coffee grinder or pestle and mortar to grind everything down to a powder.

If you want to make a big batch, just double the quantities, and it should last in an airtight container in the dark for up to 3 weeks. It can last longer, but the potency deteriorates – I use a lot of xawaash, so I get through it quickly.

To make the maraq digir, whizz up the coriander, tomatoes and chillies in a blender. Sometimes I add fresh ginger to give it an extra boost. Put the mixture to one side.

In a saucepan, boil the adzuki beans for about 20 minutes. (You can also use tinned fava beans.) Fry the sliced onion slowly in the olive oil until slightly caramelised. Stir in the xawaash spice blend. Fry a little longer, then add the coriander and tomato mixture, with some tomato paste. Add salt to taste.

Leave to simmer for about 20 minutes, adding a little water if needed. Add the beans and cook for another 15-20 minutes, then mash some of the beans.

I like it with feta and black olives and lots of olive oil on top. Serve with pita or naan bread, za’atar  (dipping spice) and olive oil.

from The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/food/2019/jul/14/recipe-that-reminds-me-of-home-souvlaki-somali-bean-stew

Gazpacho — from Epicurious

Cold Beet Soup (borscht)

Serves four as an appetizer.

For more delicate flavor (and a vegetarian option) replace the chicken stock with vegetable stock or water. To turn the soup into a hearty one-dish meal, garnish each serving with chopped hardboiled egg, cucumber, and/or radishes. Some recipes also call for the addition of boiled potatoes, bacon, or mushroom dumplings.

2 cups cooked, peeled and coarsely chopped beets
1 small onion, chopped
1 carrot, finely chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cloves garlic, chopped
4 cups chicken stock
salt and pepper to taste
1 teaspoon dried dill
½ teaspoon finely grated lemon peel
1 cup unflavored yogurt, plus more yogurt or sour cream for garnish

In a large soup pot cook the beets, onion, and carrot in the oil until the onions are soft and translucent. Add the garlic and continue cooking for another few minutes. Transfer the ingredients to a blender or food processor, and process until finely puréed (add water or stock if necessary). Return the puréed vegetables to the pot and add the stock (or water), salt and pepper, dill and lemon peel. Bring the soup back to a boil, then simmer it for about five minutes, and remove from the heat. When it has cooled slightly, whisk in one cup yogurt. Refrigerate until mixture is thoroughly chilled. To serve, add chopped hardboiled egg, cucumber and or radish if desired, and top with a dollop of yogurt or sour cream.