Mery's Potaje de Frijoles Colorados (Red Bean Soup)

12 oz. bag Red Kidney Beans
4 cups water - enough to cover the beans
1 lb. Smoked Pork Shank - leave whole
1 lb. Smoked Pork Shoulder (ham) - chunked
6 oz. Spanish Chorizo (3-4 sausages) - leave whole
1/3 Medium Green Pepper - chopped
1/2 Medium Onion - chopped
2 large garlic cloves - minced
2 Bay Leaves
1/4 cup corn oil
2 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
Black Pepper to taste
Salt to taste
3 Small Potatoes - peeled and cubed
2 lb Calabaza - peeled, seeded and cubed

The Process

Soak beans in plain water for 2 hours. (You can do this in the pressure cooker to avoid using another pot) Put the lid on the pressure cooker and seal. Cook on High until the cooker pressurizes. Once the cooker has pressurized change the stove temperature to Medium. Cook for 30 minutes. Remove from heat until all pressure is gone. Remove the lid.Set on low heat and add the smoked pork shoulder, smoked pork shank, chorizo, green pepper, onion, bay leaves, garlic, corn oil, vinegar, salt and pepper. Without replacing the lid return to heat, taste for salt and pepper, add more if needed. Set on Medium for about 45 minutes until the soup is thick enough to coat a spoon.Add the potatoes and calabaza. Leave on Medium for 20 minutes or until the potatoes are tender. Remove from heat.

TIP: When you're making any Cuban-style bean "potaje", if it doesn?t thicken properly, for whatever reason, scoop out some of the beans and puree them in the blender. Add the pureed beans back into the pot to help the thickening process.