Title: Black bean soup with lime
 Categories: None
      Yield: 1 Servings
 
      1 lg Ham hock; (about 3/4 pound)
      3 qt Plus 1 cup water
      1 lb Dried black beans; picked
           -over
      1    Red onion; chopped, (about 2
           -cups)
      1    Bay leaf
      1 cn (28-to 32-oz) whole tomatoes
           -with juice; chopped
    3/4 ts Salt; or to taste
      1 tb Fresh lime juice; (up to 2)

MMMMM--------------------------GARNISH-------------------------------
           Lime slices
 
  In a 5-quart kettle simmer ham hock in 3 quarts water, covered, 1
  hour. Add beans, onion, and bay leaf and simmer, uncovered, 1 hour,
  or until beans are just tender. Stir in tomatoes with juice, salt,
  and remaining cup water and simmer soup 45 minutes, or until beans
  are tender. Soup may be made 1 day ahead, cooled completely, and
  chilled, covered.
  
  Remove ham hock and reserve for another use. Discard bay leaf and
  stir in lime juice to taste. Divide soup among 8 bowls and garnish
  with lime slices.
  
  Serves 8.
  
  Gourmet January 1995