Cat People (1942) - Black Panther Soup

Black Panther Soup - a companion recipe for Cat People (1942), directed by Jacques Tourneur.

Irena Dubrovna is obsessed with a black panther in Cat People, convinced she is descended from witches who have the power to transform into the sleek cats. (Check the movie review from Outpost Zeta here. You know you love old horror films.)

Here, we have reworked black bean soup, adding beets to give it a sinister depth of color and flavor perfect for Halloween season, without overwhelming the flavor.

Ingredients

1 TBS extra virgin olive oil

1/2 small-ish yellow onion, chopped

2 ribs celery, split down center & diced

1 small beet, diced

1 large clove garlic, minced fine

3 cups vegetable broth

1/3 cup "forbidden" rice

1/3 cup black quinoa, rinsed and drained

1 can (14 oz.) black beans, drained & rinsed

Scant 1 teaspoon cumin

For garnish:

Lime wedges

Fresh cilantro or parsley

Jalapeno(s), sliced the long way and seeds removed

Directions

In a medium-to-large pan, heat oil over medium and sauté the onion, celery, garlic, and beets until onions are translucent. (The edges of the onions will turn blood red... it's rather macabre and beautiful.) Add vegetable broth, and rice, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer 5 minutes. Add the rinsed quinoa, black beans, and cumin. Bring just to a boil, stir, lower the heat and cover. Simmer 30 minutes.

Remove soup from heat.  Set aside half the soup and let it cool enough to be processed in a blender until smooth. Return to the pot, blend well, and bring up to serving temperature. To serve, top each bowl with a squeeze of lime, add jalapenos for cat eyes, and garnish with the fresh herbs.