Perfect Black Bean Soup
- PREP 10min
- COOK 30min
- TOTAL 40min
My family loves this easy black bean soup. Use your favorite stock or broth to make it. I love veggie broth, which keeps it vegetarian, but chicken stock works well, too. Serve this brothy or blend a portion or all of the soup to make it super creamy.
You Will Need
4 (15oz) cans black beans, drained and rinsed or use 6 cups cooked black beans
1 to 3 canned chipotles in adobo, finely chopped, plus 1 tablespoon adobo sauce
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup diced onion, 1/2 large onion
3/4 cup diced carrots, 1 large carrot
1 tablespoon minced garlic, 3 to 4 cloves
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar or lime juice
1 (15oz) can diced tomatoes, try fire roasted tomatoes
4 cups (946ml) vegetable broth, see our homemade veggie broth
1 bay leaf
1/2 cup cilantro leaves, roughly chopped
For serving: Avocado, lime wedges, cilantro, sour cream, cheese
Directions
Open the can of chipotles and adobo sauce, remove a pepper (or more for spicier soup), and mince finely.
Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or deep pot over medium heat. Add the onions and carrots. Cook, stirring often, until they have softened slightly and smell sweet, about 5 minutes.
Stir in the garlic, cumin, and oregano, and cook for 30 seconds.
Add the vinegar or lime juice, minced chipotles and adobo sauce, can of tomatoes, broth, black beans, and bay leaf.
Bring to a simmer, taste, and then season with salt and pepper.
Simmer the soup until the carrots are tender, and the broth reduces slightly, about 20 minutes.
Stir in the cilantro and the juice from half a lime (or substitute the lime with an additional tablespoon of vinegar).
For a brothy soup (like in our photos and video), serve the soup straight away.
For a thicker, more velvety soup, transfer 1/4 of the soup to a blender and blend until smooth. Pour the blended portion back into the soup and serve.
Adam and Joanne's Tips
- Chipotles in adobo: We use 1 whole pepper and 1 tablespoon of the adobo sauce in the can, adding moderate heat to the soup. For a spicier soup, add more, but be careful. The peppers do pack a punch. Find canned chipotles in adobo sauce in most grocery stores, usually near hot sauce or enchilada sauces. Substitute your favorite smoky hot sauce.
- The nutrition facts provided below are estimates.