Jamaican Red Bean Soup
This recipe comes to us courtesy of Jimmy Bannos and John DeMers from their cookbook, The Heaven on Seven Cookbook. Where It's Mardi Gras All the Time!
Submitted by: Jimmy from Chicago, IL, USA
Yield: Serves 6
Preparation Instructions:
Melt the butter in a 3-quart saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic puree and saute for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the beans and 1 cup of the stock and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 8 minutes.
Carefully transfer the contents of the pan to a food processor or blender and puree until smooth. (Place a folded dish towel over the top of the blender to prevent hot liquid from splashing out.) Return the puree to the saucepan.
Add the remaining stock, jerk seasoning, salt, pepper, habanero chile powder, coriander, and allspice; bring to a simmer over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, and simmer for 10 minutes.
Add the ham and pork and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in the cream, mixing thoroughly, and heat through. Whisk in the cornstarch mixture and simmer for 1 minute.
More About This Recipe
In the islands, most folks call red kidney beans "red peas." In New Orleans, red beans and rice are a staple. This red bean soup is actually a nifty way to use up leftover red beans, or you can start from scratch, as we do here. Either way, don't be shy about the jerk seasoning.
Hi Bob,
Tasso ham is preferred, but can be hard to find.
I would suggest substituting smoked ham for this recipe if you cannot find tasso.
—Spice House Staff
Can you use regular ham or a smoked ham if you can’t find Tasso?
red kidney bean soup is so good..i made it yesterday a pot full was gone in a hour,,i can make this soup once a week..i used goat pepper onion and scallions ..and all the other spices..it ahhhhhh so good..
A good soup to warm up the body in the cold winter season.