Mexican black bean soup with masa balls: Sopa de frijoles negros con bolitas de masa

Karen Hursh Graber

Mexican black bean soup with masa balls could easily be a whole meal, accompanied by a salad. A nopales salad or a watercress and spinach salad would both be good choices.

Ingredients

For the soup:

• 2 tablespoons lard or oil
• ½ medium onion
• 1 roma tomato, peeled, seeded and chopped
• 2 cups cooked black beans
• 2 cups bean broth from cooking the beans
• 2 large sprigs epazote
• Salt to taste

For the bolitas:

• ½ pound prepared masa (masa made with masa harina is fine)
• 3 ounces lard
• 3 ounces queso añejo
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• Salt to taste
• Vegetable oil for frying

In a large saucepan, heat the oil, add the onion and tomato, and sauté until soft. Add the cooked beans, bean broth, epazote and salt to taste.

Bring soup to a boil, lower heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Place about 1/3 of the soup in a blender and puree. Return the puree to the soup. This will thicken it somewhat, while retaining the soup’s texture. Add the bolitas to the soup and simmer gently for a few minutes.

Ladle the soup into bowls, adding a couple of the bolitas to each.

To make the bolitas: Mix the masa, lard, cheese, baking powder and salt. Form into small balls. (The ones in Xico were about the size of ping-pong balls.)

Fry the bolitas over low heat, turning gently, until they take on a slightly golden color. This will seal them and prevent falling apart in the soup. Simmer for a few minutes in the soup. They will fluff up in the liquid.