Creamy Black Bean Soup (Printable)

Rich, creamy soup with black beans, aromatic vegetables, and warming spices. Comforting and ready in 55 minutes.

# What Goes In:

→ 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 with juices
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
18 - Sour cream or vegan yogurt
19 - Sliced avocado
20 - Lime wedges
21 - Diced red onion

# How to Make It:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add chopped onion, 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 the aromatics.
04 - Add black beans, diced tomatoes with juices, and vegetable broth to the pot. Stir 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, leaving some beans and vegetables intact. Alternatively, transfer half the soup to a blender, puree until smooth, and return to the pot.
07 - Taste the 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 Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under an hour, which means you can have something soul-warming on the table before dinner time even feels rushed.
  • The spice balance is warm without being aggressive, so it works for people who like their food gentle or those who want to crank up the heat.
  • Partial blending creates this creamy texture without any cream, making it naturally vegan and somehow more satisfying than you'd expect.
02 -
  • If you blend the entire soup, it becomes mousse-like and loses the texture that makes it interesting—partial blending is the trick that keeps it feeling substantial.
  • Toasting the spices in oil before adding liquid is non-negotiable; it's the difference between a pot of beans and actual soup with depth.
03 -
  • Drain and rinse your canned beans thoroughly—it reduces gas and gives you cleaner flavor instead of the starchy canning liquid.
  • Keep a bottle of lime juice nearby for serving; a squeeze at the end brightens everything and makes people taste the spices more clearly.
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