Sopa De Frijol
½ cup canola oil
8 oz. black beans, soaked overnight
½ tsp. dried oregano
½ tsp. ground cumin
4 cloves garlic, peeled
2 medium white onions, each cut in half
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2 plum tomatoes, cored
4 cups chicken stock
¼ cup crema or sour cream
8 oz. queso fresco cut into ¼? cubes
Fried tortilla strips, to garnish
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Heat ¼ cup oil in a 4-qt. saucepan over medium-high heat. Add beans, oregano, cumin, 3 cloves garlic, 2 onion halves, and 5 cups water. Bring to a boil, and then reduce heat to medium-low; cook, covered and stirring occasionally, until beans are tender, about 2 hours. Remove from heat, and purée in a blender until smooth, at least 2 minutes; season with salt and pepper, and set beans aside.
2. Arrange an oven rack 4? from broiler, and heat broiler to high. Place remaining garlic and 1 onion half along with tomatoes on a foil-lined baking sheet; broil, turning as needed, until blackened all over, about 8 minutes for garlic and tomatoes, about 16 minutes for onion. Transfer to a food processor, and purée until smooth, at least 2 minutes; pour through a fine strainer into a bowl, and set tomato purée aside.
3. Heat remaining oil in a 6-qt. saucepan over medium-high heat. Finely chop remaining onion half, add to pan, and cook, stirring, until soft, about 8 minutes. Add tomato purée, and cook, stirring constantly, until slightly reduced, about 3 minutes. Add beans and stock, and bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium-low, and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly reduced, about 45 minutes. Purée soup in blender until very smooth, at least 2 minutes; stir in crema, and season with salt and pepper. To serve, divide soup among serving bowls, and sprinkle with cheese and tortilla strips.