Mash half of the amount of the cooked garbanzo beans to be used in the soup. (Pre cooked dried garbanzo beans or quality canned garbanzo beans can be used in this soup.) Add all of the garbanzo beans to the pot. Simmer over low heat till the soup's flavors meld. Stir occasionally. Remove the bay leaf. Serve in a bowl.
There is a Spanish touch of flavor in this soup. Traditionally this soup is made with chorizo sausage. Store bought chorizo is not that great of a quality where I am located. I haven't been making any sausages lately, but I had some ham. The flavor of this soup is great with ham too. This is a zesty cold weather soup! ... Shawna