Chilli Bean Soup

This soup requires a little preparation if your using dried beans, which I do, cause you can get so many more different types of bean.  Basically, I went to asda and grabbed a packet of each bean, then mixed them all together in a tub, now I have mixed beans, yay.  I'm using them for all sorts of things, curries, Chilli with different beans and soups too.  

This particular soup I made after a recommendation from my good friend Stan to just make a watery chilli if you want a bean soup..  sorted :)  so I took my basic Chilli recipe and made a few amendments, the results were fantastic, probably the best soup I've ever made.  

   

Ingredients for this Recipe
(This made roughly 4 bowls of soup, of which I ate 3 heh.)

50g Dried Mixed Beans
(I can't remember what all the beans were called, but in there was Kidney, Haricot, Black eye pea, Pinto, Chick pea and a few others that looked cool lol)
1 Tbsp Vegetable Oil
1 Tin Chopped Tomatoes 
1 Tbsp Tomato Puree
1 Pint Chicken Stock
1 Onion
2 Tsp Ground Cumin
1 1/2 Tsp Ground Coriander
1 Tsp Paprika
1 Tsp Sweet Paprika
1 Tsp Smoked Paprika
1 Tsp Mild Chilli Powder
1 Tsp Hot Chilli Powder
1/2 Tsp Different Hot Chilli Powder
1/2 Tsp Garlic Powder
1/4 Tsp Salt
1/4 Tsp Crushed Black Pepper
1/4 Tsp Turmeric
1/2 Tsp Coriander Leaf
1/2 Tsp Basil
1/4 Tsp Thyme
1/4 Tsp Oregano
1/4 Tsp Mint
2 Bay Leaves

a Little Cream, if you like.. it's great without, but better with a little dash :)

Yes, I know that's a lot of stuff.  but this is a nice Chilli Soup.  My chilli recipe isn't far off this, but with the addition of wine and lot more cooking, and some fresh chilli's and Mince etc.

and I use different Paprika and Chilli because each one has a different flavour.

Instructions

First of all your going to have to prepare 24 hours in advance, the Beans need soaking..  unless you intend to use canned ones, then you don't have too.. You'll need a processor or hand blender if you don't want it lumpy.


     So, Put your beans in enough water to cover and cope with the fact that they will swell.  leave them in the fridge for at least 12 hours, or overnight.  These are going to take another Hour to finish cooking, so when your about to start preparing the meal for cooking (the following day) Drain and rinse them, then put them in some fresh water in a saucepan.
Bring to the boil, then simmer for an hour, ensuring it doesn't boil dry. 
 
It's a good idea to have all the spices in a single tub ready to throw in, along with the can of toms open and the chicken stock..  

Chop the onion as small as you can, and put a big saucepan on the hob on a high heat with the Vegetable Oil in, when it's heated up throw in the onions and stir fry until brown.

When they are browned quickly throw in all the spices, and stir very quickly, ie seconds..  then throw in the chopped tomatoes before all the spices burn heh.
stir this all in and make sure it's mixed, don't let it get dry,
after a quick stir throw in the Chicken Stock and the tomato puree. give it a stir then bring to the boil.
after it comes to a boil, give it a final stir, reduce the heat to a simmer and leave with the lid on to cook for a about 40 minutes. 

Don't forget to check your beans, they need about an hour..  if they finish before you've finished cooking the soup, don't worry, we add them soon heh..
 
After 40 minutes, assuming the beans were cooking for 20 minutes prior to starting the 40 minute timer. if the beans have not had long enough, don't panic, just reduce the heat on the soup and let it simmer till the beans are done.

Once the beans are done, drain and wash them. Don't add them to the soup yet.

Grab your hand blender, give the soup a blitz until it's nice and smooth.  now return to the heat.  

if it's looking too thick, add a little more water or chicken stock.

add all the cooked beans in (I also added a few bits of sweetcorn too, but not needed, I just like it heh.)  now let it cook on a low heat for another 15-20 minutes.  

Once the 15-20 has passed it's done, put it in a dish, and serve with a swirl of cream, if you can manage that, I failed and just had a random splash heh.