Rich and Creamy Black Bean Soup (Printable Version)

Velvety black bean soup with warming spices, ready in 55 minutes. Vegetarian, gluten-free, and incredibly satisfying.

# What You Need:

→ 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
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

# How To Make It:

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 to the pot and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Stir in cumin, smoked paprika, chili powder, oregano, coriander, salt, pepper, and cayenne if using. Cook for 1 minute to release spice aromatics.
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 and simmer uncovered for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
06 - Use an immersion blender to partially blend the soup, leaving some beans and vegetables whole for texture. Alternatively, transfer half the soup to a blender, blend until smooth, and return to the pot.
07 - Taste the soup and adjust salt, pepper, or spices as needed to achieve desired flavor balance.
08 - Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with cilantro, sour cream, avocado, lime wedges, or red onion as desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Nutritious: Provides 13g of protein and 42g of healthy carbohydrates per serving.
  • Diet-Friendly: Naturally vegetarian and gluten-free, and easily vegan if using plant-based garnishes.
  • Complex Flavor: Infused with cumin, smoked paprika, and coriander for a smoky, warm profile.
  • Versatile Texture: Blending half the soup creates a velvety base while keeping some beans whole for bite.
02 -
  • Toast Your Spices: Cooking the cumin, paprika, and other spices for a minute before adding the liquid intensifies their aroma and flavor.
  • Texture Control: Use an immersion blender directly in the pot to control exactly how chunky or smooth you want your soup to be.
  • Label Check: Always verify the labels on canned beans and vegetable broth to ensure they meet your dietary needs.
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