What I loved about the recipe was the simplicity of the flavors: sautéed onion and garlic, toasted cumin seed and crushed red pepper flakes. But there was an element of surprise, too, lent by the zest of an orange. Somehow, through all of the bold, beany flavors, the citrusy brightness prevailed. I made it again very recently, using my Duromatic pressure cooker to cook a pound of un-soaked black beans, and the whole thing came together relatively quickly. Friends, if you’ve been reading for awhile, you know I’m a briner and a soaker. But I recently learned that with black beans, brining and soaking is not necessary. And in fact, it might be preferable both taste and texture-wise not to soak/brine. Works for me. This soup season, I’m going to use this information to my advantage—no longer will I allow un-soaked beans to stand in the way of the soup or chili of my immediate dreams. Black bean soup tonight? Yes. We. Can. The Duromatic pressure cooker in action: Cooked black beans: Black bean soup ingredients: Dice some onion for the soup; reserve some for garnishing: Start by sweating onion with toasted cumin seed and crushed red pepper flakes. Then add minced garlic and the zest of an orange. Add 6 cups cooked black beans and a quart of water or stock. Add some crushed oregano, then simmer 30 minutes. Gather your condiments. Garnish soup as desired. 5 from 5 reviews Notes: After reading an article on Serious Eats about soaking vs. not soaking black beans, I’ve stopped soaking them, and I’ve really taken to cooking them in my stovetop pressure cooker — they cook up so nicely and relatively quickly. Once the pot gets up to pressure, the beans cook for 25 minutes, and it probably takes about as long for the valve to release naturally. To cook the black beans using a stovetop pressure cooker: Place 2.5 cups dried black beans in the pressure cooker pot with 8 cups water and 2 teaspoons salt. Bring up to pressure over high heat. Reduce heat to low and allow beans to cook for 25 minutes. Remove pot from heat and allow the valve to release naturally. To cook the black beans using an Instant Pot: Place 2.5 cups dried beans, 2 teaspoons kosher salt, and 8 cups water in the inner pot of your Instant Pot. Secure lid in place. Turn valve to Sealing. Select manual, high pressure, and adjust the time to 25 minutes. When the time has lapsed, allow the pressure to release naturally, which is when the silver button on the lid drops. You, of course, can simply simmer the beans stovetop or use your slow cooker.
2.5 cups (about a pound) dried beans will yield 6 cups cooked beans. If using canned beans, drain and rinse them.
