Portuguese Red Bean Soup

Ingredients

• 1 carrot
• 1 onion
• 4 stalks celery
• 4 tomatoes, skinned & seeded
• 1 potato, peeled
• 8 ounces kidney beans, soaked overnight
• 2 ounces olive oil
• 2 ounces butter
• 1 1/4 teaspoons paprika
• 2 quarts chicken stock
• 3 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 mild chorizo sausage (or hot)
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• salt & pepper

Directions

1. 1

   Finely chop all vegetables including tomatoes and potato. Drain soaked beans, discarding liquid.

2. 2

   In a medium pot, add olive oil and butter.

3. 3

   When oil is hot, add chopped carrot, onion, celery, tomatoes. Saute, but do not brown. Add chopped potato, paprika, and chicken stock.

4. 4

   When this reaches a boil, add kidney beans and turn down heat to a simmer. Add tomato paste .

5. 5

   Let cook 45-60 minutes, stirring occasionally. When beans are soft to the touch add sausage and cayenne pepper.

6. 6

   Season to taste.