New Orleans Spicy Bean Soup

This is a really great soup for gatherings. From Fabulous Fat-Free Cooking.

• Ready In: 5 hrs 30 mins
• Serves: 14

Ingredients

• 3  quarts water
• 1  smoked ham hock, with meat attached
• 1  bay leaf
• 1  lb dried navy beans or 1  lb kidney bean
• 2  large onions, chopped
• 2  stalks celery, with leafy tops chopped
• 1  carrot, shredded
• 1⁄2  sweet red pepper, chopped
• 1  cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 1  tablespoon ground cumin
• 1  teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 -2  teaspoon  creole seasoning
• 4  garlic cloves, minced
•  hot pepper sauce

Directions

1. In large no-stick pot, combine the water, ham hock, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil over med-high heat. Reduce the heat to med-low, cover, and simmer for 1 hour. Uncover and simmer for 30 minutes.
2. Strain into a large bowl. Discard the bay leaf. Remove the meat from the bone. Trim off all visible fat and cut the meat into small dice. Set aside about 3/4 cup of the meat; reserve any remainder for another use. Defat the Stock.
3. Wash the pot with soapy water and rinse. Return the stock to pot.
4. Add the beans, onions, celery, carrots, red peppers, parsley, cilantro, cumin, oregano, Creole seasoning, and garlic. Set over med-high heat and bring almost to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, or until the beans are tender.
5. Transfer 4 cups of the soup to a blender or food processor. Puree, then stir back into the soup. If the soup is not thick enough, continue pureeing in 1-cup batches until the soup is the desired consistency. (May also use a hand blender in this step.) Stir in the reserved ham. Season to taste with the hot-pepper sauce.