Black Bean Soup (Sopa Negra)

Here is an all time favorite in my family, specifically my mom's. A very simply made but delicious soup. I am not sure if the hard boiled egg is a Costa Rican tradition or if it's just my mom's. But we love it!

Ingredients:

1 lb fresh black beans

1 small onion, sliced in two

2 whole garlic cloves, peeled

1/8 tsp ground cumin

1 beef bone (optional)

fresh whole eggs, in shell, (optional)

2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped

1 tbsp salt

Instructions:

Rinse beans under cold water and in a medium glass bowl for at least 3 hours (you'll know when they are ready because beans become thick looking).  Place beans and water in a crockpot, add onion, garlic, cumin and beef bone (if using), be sure beans are completely covered with water. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours.  When beans are tender, add salt.  Wash eggs thoroughly and add as many people you will be serving and let it simmer for about 5 minutes, then remove and peel.  Place about a tsp of cilantro on the bottom of the bowl and pour scoops of soup over it and add hard boiled egg.  Enjoy with crusty bread or white rice!  I hope you like it as much as we do in my family.

Oh Happy memories!