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Cuban Bean Soup
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138 Posts
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February 22, 2012 - 11:09 am
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We've made this soup at a couple of rallys and it's gone over quite well.  After the third person asked us how it was made, we said we'd post the recipe.  It's an adaptation of the Cuban Bean Soup at the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City, FL, made with more readily available ingredients and some time saving shortcuts.

2 qts. water
2 16 oz. cans of garbanzo beans (chick peas)
4 strips of bacon, cut into squares
pinch of paprika
1 1/2 onions, chopped
2 oz. butter or margarine (1/2 stick)
1 lb. beef cubes, cut into small pieces
4 large potatoes, cubed
pinch of saffron
garlic powder
salt to taste
6-8 oz. sliced pepperoni

Place the garbanzo beans and beef in water in a large stew pot.  Cook 45 minutes over low heat.  Meanwhile, fry the bacon, onions and paprika in the butter or margarine.  Add to the beans along with the diced potatoes, saffron, salt and garlic powder.  When the potatoes are done, remove from heat and add pepperoni.

If you're interested in authenticity, in the original version, the beans are not canned, the bacon is replaced with a ham hock and the pepperoni is replaced with Cuban chorizo.  The recipe doubles, triples and even quadruples nicely.  It also refrigerates quite well and gets even better when reheated, so you can make it at home and bring it with you if you want or you can chop your veggies and the beef cubes before you leave and have it all ready to go when you get to camp.  You can also officially call yourself a glamper when you need to have a little jar of saffron in your pup.

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1238 Posts
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February 22, 2012 - 12:42 pm
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Totally appropriate for the featured recipes.

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March 11, 2012 - 7:12 pm
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Just a note about saffron...
When you see the price you will be seriously tempted to omit it... DON'T
It may seem trivial, but it really does make the soup taste right. The good news is that the little pack of saffron will make a lot of soup and other things... a tiny bit goes forever. You wouldn't think a pinch of anything could effect the taste of about 3 quarts of material but it sure does! I forgot to take mine with me when I went to make the soup at a friend's house and we ended up putting the soup in the fridge and going out to buy some. It tasted flat and not all that great without it... one pinch... magic!

My family has been making this soup for 4 generations now. We each do it a bit differently. Some use more garlic or less... one of my Aunts makes it without any salt... still tastes great.

Hope Y'all enjoy!

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March 12, 2012 - 10:07 am
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To get the most out of your saffron, allow it to bloom in a portion of the liquid.

Reserve an amount of the total liquid, 1/4 cup is sufficient.  Warm the liquid and put the saffron in it.  Allow it to steep like tea.  It won't take long, 15 minutes should do the trick.

Return the liquid and saffron strands to the recipe.

By doing this you'll get the most out of your saffron in both color and taste.

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