Southwestern Black Beans and Barley

Submitted by cmacooks

"No description submitted, but something needed here for posting. :)"

 

• Ready In: 8hrs 20mins
• Ingredients: 14
• Serves: 6

ingredients

• 2 cups dried black beans
• 1 cup barley
• 1 cup celery, diced
• 1 cup onion, diced
• 1 medium leek, washed well, white part only, chopped fine
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons cumin
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 2 teaspoons celery seeds
• 8 cups vegetable broth
• 1 (10 ounce) can Rotel Tomatoes
• 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese (to garnish) (optional)
• sour cream, as desired (to garnish) (optional)

directions

1. Rinse and sort the beans.
2. Soak them overnight. Drain.
3. Place in 6 quart crock pot, with barley on top.
4. Add celery, onion, garlic and leek to the mixture in the pot, along with tomatoes, seasonings and broth.
5. Set crock pot to cook on low for 8 hours.
6. (Optional: Serve with cheese as a garnish and top each serving with a tablespoon of sour cream).

Reviews

[julkoz]

This soup is excellant as written. We really enjoyed it with sour cream and some freshly chopped cilantro. Great on this cold evening.

 

[KellyAM]

This recipe is fantastic! The only change I made was additional cumin and a bit of coriander. Other reviewers found that the beans did not cook in the alloted time; I didn't have that problem, just make sure you soak them first. My husband and 6 year old couldn't get enough! This will definitely be a regular in our rotation.

 

[kitty.rock]

We really liked this recipe. I used canned beans (2 cans) and these worked out fine. Flavors were very nice. We ate this as a soup with the cheese sprinkled on top. Made for the CRAZE-E Cooking contest finalists, October 2008.

 

[Galley Wench]

I made the recipe as written, using dried beans (soaked for approximately 10 hours). Unfortunately, at the end of 8 hours the beans were still 'crunchy' and the barley was overcooked. However, It did have good flavor so think that you're on the right track. Would suggest making it clear in the description or title as to whether the recipe is intended as a soup or side dish.

 

[Rita1652]

I used 3 cans of black beans in place of the dried. upped the garlic and added a whole habanero chili for extra heat. The recipe called for 8 cups of broth which made this a soup. I did reduce some of the broth stove top at the end of cooking for a heartier soup. Which I hope it was meant to be? Topped with cheddar cheese. I skipped the salt and rinsed the canned beans to keep the sodium down. Thank you for the goodness!