Cuban Black Bean Soup Recipe

Cuban Black Bean Soup Recipe

Ingredients

Makes 4 To 5 Servings

This Soup Is Vegan.

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium red or yellow onion, minced
• 2½ teaspoons ground cumin
• half a medium red bell pepper, minced
• 1 tablespoon minced or crushed garlic (about 3 good-sized cloves)
• 1½ teaspoons salt
• 3 15-ounce cans black beans (approximately 4 cups cooked beans)
• 3 cups water
• 1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• a big handful of cilantro leaves
• freshly ground black pepper
• red pepper flakes
• lime wedges, for garnish

Method

1. Place a soup pot or a dutch oven over medium heat
2. After about a minute, add the olive oil and swirl to coat the pan
3. Add the onion and cumin, and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes, or until the onion softens
4. Add the bell pepper, garlic, and salt, and reduce the heat to medium-low
5. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 15 minutes, or until the vegetables are very soft
6. Meanwhile, set a colander in the sink and pour in the beans; give them a quick rinse and allow them to drain
7. Add the beans and the water to the soup pot, and bring to a boil
8. Then turn the heat all the way down to the lowest possible setting, partially cover, and simmer gently, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes
9. Use a potato masher or the back of a slotted spoon to mash about half of the soup so it thickens
10. The soup will become somewhat chunky, not completely smooth- if at any point it seems to have gotten too thick, it’s okay to add a little extra water (about ¼ cup at a time) until it’s a consistency you like
11. Add a tablespoon of the lime juice, and then taste to see if you think it needs the second tablespoon
12. Use scissors to snip in the cilantro (it’s okay if the pieces are a bit rough)
13. Add about 8 grinds of black pepper and a pinch of red pepper flakes, and then simmer and stir for another minute or two to let the flavors blend
14. Serve hot, with the lime wedges alongside

Full List of Soup Recipes
Full List of Black-Bean Recipes