Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Black Bean Soup With Labna


This soup is thick, rich, and velvety in texture. Meat lovers love these beans because of the meaty taste. Black beans are very healthy. They have high fiber, cancer-fighting antioxidants, and protein. They are mostly used in Mexican cuisine. You can make cake, chili, soup, stew, patty, or even dip with black beans.

Labna is very very easy to make flavored, strained yogurt. It is also known as yogurt cheese. Usually, making labna takes 2-3 days because they strained every ounce of liquid from yogurt, and hang it wrapped in a cloth for 2 days. It then comes out very silky and smooth. The small marble-sized balls are formed and preserved in Olive oil. It goes very well with sandwich, salads, with grilled vegetables, and with soups etc. I just made instant.

This goes wonderfully well with this little sweet soup because labna will infuse a tinge of sour flavor to it. I used pickled jalapeno instead of regular one. It gives more flavor to the soup.

Ingredients:-

-- For Labna

  • 2 cups Yogurt
  • 1 tbsp Onion Flakes, dry
  • 1/4 tsp Lemon Zest
  • Garlic salt to taste
  • Cheese Cloth/Muslin Cloth

-- For Soup

  • 4 cups Black Beans, cooked
  • 1 Onion, chopped
  • 2 Garlic Cloves, chopped
  • 1/4 tsp Ginger, grated
  • 1/2 tsp Red Chili Powder
  • 6-7 Sliced Pickled Jalapeño
  • 1 tsp Cumin Powder
  • 5 cups Vegetable Stock
  • 1 tbsp Olive Oil
  • 1 tsp Lemon Zest
  • Salt to taste
  • Black Pepper to taste
  • Chives, chopped

Method:-

-- For Labna

1. In bowl, mix yogurt, lemon zest, onion flakes, and garlic salt.

2. Place cheese Cloth/Muslin Cloth in large bowl.

3. Pour yogurt mix into the cloth and pull all the cloth corners together.

4. Hang the cloth and let it drain liquid for 3-4 hours.

-- For Soup

1. Heat oil in sauce pan, add onion, garlic, ginger, and salt. Sauté for 3-4 minutes.

2. Add black beans, red chili powder, jalapeño, cumin powder, and black pepper. Sauté for 2 more minutes.

4. Add lemon zest, and vegetable stock, cover with lid, and bring it up to the boil. Turn down the heat.

5. Simmer the soup for 35-40 minutes on medium-low heat.

6. Blend the soup until smooth.

7. Pour soup back in the pan, taste and season. Heat it for 3-4 minutes.

8. Transfer the soup to a warmed serving bowls, put labna on top, and sprinkle chives.

Enjoy...


Visual Treat Event hosted by Sanyukta.



This is my entry to Original Recipes hosted by Lore




I am also sending this entry to WYC: Colour in Food Event by EC

34 comments:

  1. Soup looking wonderful and with the wonderful deco...gud job done

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  2. Madhavi, the first thing that caught my eye was the fishes swimming.. Lovely job.. Really!!

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  3. Soup looks delicious! never made black bean soup. Will try.

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  4. Soup looks awesome and delicious..Love the decoration....

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  5. I love black bean soups.. the flavorful labna topping must make this even more delicious.

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  6. This soup sounds healthy to me... Those little cheese fishes are so cute...

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  7. Wow, look at that presentation! Good job Madhavi! I just want to grab that plate and bowl with yummy soup and cookies.

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  8. wow... Nice entry... Amazing... looks yummy & mouth watering...

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  9. I love soup with crackers, specially with gold fish :) Lovely bean soup presentation

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  10. soup looks wonderful and luved the presentation sooooooo much..

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  11. Hi madhavi,

    I love beans and your soup sure does look lovely!

    This is my first visit here. Do visit me at http://thefootloosechef.blogspot.com/

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  12. Soup looks tasty. Labna something new to me.

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  13. this looks really delicious....
    will try this soup....and a nice presentation...

    I ve a Rocking Surprise....check out

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  14. lovely presentation .. lovely recipe .. never tried this one

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  15. Looks delicious,loved the gold fish presentation too :)

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  16. the fishes in the soup is an attrcating decoration! soup is delicious!

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  17. Madhavi, I have something for you ..Check out my blog..

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  18. check my blog.. surprise is there...

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  19. This looks lovely! Great colour of the gravy :) By the way, you've been tagged.

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  20. The soup looks absolutely creamy and filling. Love the little fish floating in the soup.

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  21. Lovely colour of the soup...

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  22. Two awards are waiting in my blog to be collected by you....collect them before they expires.... ;)

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  23. pls check my blog.. surprise is there..
    http://srikarskitchen.blogspot.com/2008/08/paneer-mutter-masala-award.html

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  24. Three things are waiting for you at my blog. Come and collect them.

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    I hope you like them!

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  25. Labna sounds great.Onion flakes!!!!!
    The black bean soup looks rich awesome.

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  26. This is such a rich soup packed with great flavours! Love the jalapeno and cumin kick and those cute little fish crackers are guaranteed to bring a smile on anyone's face :D
    Thanks for sharing it with Original Recipes!

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  27. a surprise waiting for u in my blog!

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  28. It's soup time during monsoons and I love having them in different varieties...thanks for this lovely recipe:)

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  29. Hi,
    I have tagged u. Visit my blog.Also, there is something special for you..:) click here

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  30. I have a small treat for you here...http://simpleindianfood.blogspot.com/2008/08/masala-puri-with-moong.html

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  31. You ve a beautiful treat and a tagg waiting for u....grab it from my blog

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  32. sahi hai yaar.. decor mein to champ ho poori

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  33. Soup looks so thick. I have started using this black beans in my cooking recently. Will try this one for sure.

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