Black Bean Soup (Printer-Friendly)

Rich, creamy black bean soup with warming spices and vegetables. Ready in 55 minutes.

# What You’ll 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, 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

# How to Make It:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, 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 cumin, smoked paprika, chili powder, oregano, coriander, salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper if using. Cook for 1 minute to release aromatic oils.
04 - Add black beans, diced tomatoes with juices, and vegetable broth. Stir thoroughly to combine all ingredients.
05 - Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
06 - Use an immersion blender to partially blend the soup for a creamy consistency while leaving some beans and vegetables intact. Alternatively, transfer half the soup to a blender, blend until smooth, and return to the pot.
07 - Taste and adjust salt, pepper, and spices as needed.
08 - Ladle hot soup into bowls and garnish with cilantro, sour cream, avocado, lime, or red onion as desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Its incredibly budget friendly but tastes like something from a restaurant
  • The spices create this incredible depth that makes people think you simmered it all day
  • You can freeze half for later and always have something comforting on hand
02 -
  • Do not skip toasting the spices in step 3, it is what transforms this from bean soup into something special
  • Letting the soup simmer uncovered helps it thicken naturally without any thickeners
  • Partially blending instead of completely pureeing creates that restaurant texture that feels substantial
03 -
  • Make a double batch and freeze half, it actually tastes better after it has sat in the freezer for a week
  • If you want it smokier, add an extra half teaspoon of smoked paprika
  • For a protein boost, stir in some cooked quinoa or rice at the very end
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