Instructions: Soak beans overnight; drain. Transfer to a large soup pot and cover the beans with fresh water. Bring to a boil for 5 minutes, then drain and rinse them.

Warm the oil in the soup pot, add the onion and chile and briefly cook together. Next add the beans and 10 cups of water; bring to a boil. Simmer until beans are tender, about 45 minutes for new beans, longer for older beans. Season to taste with salt, then continue cooking until they are completely soft.

Puree half the beans and cooking liquid at a time in the blender until smooth. Return the puree to the pot. Add cream and reheat. Chop toasted pine nuts finely. Stir in the chopped herbs, reserving some of the chives.

Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with remaining chives and the pine nuts.

If you would like to email yourself the recipe for later use, or share the recipe with your friends or family, enter the email addresses below and this recipe will be emailed to you and others as well.