Rich Creamy Black Bean Soup (Print Version)

Creamy black bean soup with aromatic spices, ready in under an hour for a comforting meal.

# Ingredient List:

→ Beans & Vegetables

01 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
02 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 medium carrot, diced
05 - 1 celery stalk, diced
06 - 2 (15-ounce) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
07 - 1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes
08 - 4 cups vegetable broth

→ Spices & Seasoning

09 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
10 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
11 - 1 teaspoon chili powder
12 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
13 - 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
14 - 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
15 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
16 - Pinch of cayenne pepper, optional

→ Garnishes

17 - Chopped fresh cilantro, optional
18 - Sour cream or vegan yogurt, optional
19 - Sliced avocado, optional
20 - Lime wedges, optional
21 - Diced red onion, optional

# Recipe Steps:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add chopped onion, diced carrot, and celery. Sauté for 5 minutes until vegetables begin to soften.
02 - Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Stir in ground cumin, smoked paprika, chili powder, dried oregano, ground coriander, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Cook for 1 minute to release essential oils.
04 - Add drained black beans, diced tomatoes with their juices, and vegetable broth. Stir thoroughly to combine all ingredients.
05 - Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
06 - Use an immersion blender to partially blend the soup, leaving some beans and vegetables intact. Alternatively, transfer half the soup to a blender, puree until smooth, and return to pot.
07 - Taste soup and adjust salt, pepper, and spices as needed.
08 - Ladle hot soup into bowls and garnish with cilantro, sour cream, avocado, lime wedges, or red onion as desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It comes together in under an hour, which means you can go from craving to eating without losing your mind.
  • The spice blend creates depth that makes people ask if you've been simmering this all day when really you haven't.
  • One pot means minimal cleanup, and it tastes even better the next day.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the canned beans, that starch creates a cloudy broth that muffles the flavor you're trying to build.
  • The partial blending step is what separates this from chunky bean stew, it creates a creamy body without dairy.
03 -
  • Buy good vegetable broth because it's doing real work here, not just filling space.
  • If you're using dried beans instead of canned, cook them until they're completely tender first, then proceed with the recipe.
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