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Spicy Black Bean Soup - Bold, Hearty, and Comforting

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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • Olive oil – 2 tablespoons
  • Yellow onion – 1 medium, diced
  • Red bell pepper – 1, diced (or use poblano for extra heat)
  • Jalapeño – 1, seeded and minced (keep some seeds for more heat)
  • Garlic – 4 cloves, minced
  • Ground cumin – 2 teaspoons
  • Smoked paprika – 1 teaspoon
  • Chipotle chili powder or adobo sauce – 1 teaspoon (adjust to taste)
  • Dried oregano – 1 teaspoon
  • Black beans – 3 cans (15 ounces each), drained and rinsed; or 4 1/2 cups cooked
  • Vegetable broth – 4 cups (use low-sodium)
  • Tomato paste – 1 tablespoon
  • Bay leaf – 1
  • Lime – 1, juiced (plus wedges for serving)
  • Fresh cilantro – 1/4 cup, chopped (optional but recommended)
  • Salt and black pepper – to taste
  • Optional toppings – diced avocado, sour cream or yogurt, shredded cheese, sliced green onions, crushed tortilla chips, hot sauce

Method
 

  1. Sauté the aromatics. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, bell pepper, and jalapeño. Cook, stirring often, until softened and slightly golden, about 6–8 minutes.
  2. Add garlic and spices. Stir in garlic, cumin, smoked paprika, chipotle or adobo, and oregano. Cook 1 minute until fragrant. Don’t skip this step—blooming the spices makes a big difference.
  3. Build the base. Add the black beans, vegetable broth, tomato paste, and bay leaf. Stir to dissolve the tomato paste. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce to a simmer.
  4. Simmer to meld flavors. Cover partially and cook 15–20 minutes, stirring a few times. Taste and season with salt and pepper. The broth should taste bold and a little smoky.
  5. Blend for creaminess. Remove the bay leaf. Use an immersion blender to blend the soup in short bursts until it’s about half smooth, half chunky. Or transfer 2–3 cups to a blender, puree, and return to the pot.
  6. Finish bright. Stir in lime juice and cilantro. Taste and adjust seasoning—add more lime, salt, or chipotle for heat as needed.
  7. Serve with toppings. Ladle into bowls and top with avocado, a dollop of sour cream or yogurt, green onions, tortilla chips, and a dash of hot sauce. Serve with lime wedges on the side.