CHILLED BLACK BEAN PURéE WITH BASMATI AND MANGO

Steps:

• Soak black beans in cold water for 2 hours. Drain. Combine beans, water, herbs, vegetables, chili and sugar in 1 1/2-gallon stock pot, cover, and bring to simmer over medium heat. Reduce heat to low, and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until beans are tender, 45 minutes to an hour.
• Remove carrot, celery, onion and bay leaf from soup with tongs. Ladle half the soup into blender and purée until smooth. Transfer to a bowl (not plastic). Purée remaining soup and transfer to bowl. Stir in 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Cover, and refrigerate, or stir over ice water bath at room temperature until very cold (about 5 hours in refrigerator, about 1 hour over ice).
• Bring 3 cups salted water to a boil over high heat in medium saucepan. Stir in rice, lower heat, cover, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until rice is tender, about 30 minutes. Drain rice, rinse with cold water, shake dry, transfer to bowl, cover, and refrigerate until ready to use.
• To serve, taste soup and adjust seasoning. Stir scallion and cilantro into rice. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Peel, and dice mango or avocado, toss with lime juice and salt. Spoon 1/4 cup seasoned rice into center of 6 chilled soup plates. Ladle soup over it. Top with mango or avocado.