Sweet Potato Black Bean Soup (Print)

Hearty sweet potatoes and black beans simmered with cumin, smoked paprika, and aromatic vegetables for a warming, satisfying bowl.

# Components:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
02 - 1 large yellow onion, diced
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 medium carrot, diced
05 - 1 stalk celery, diced
06 - 1 red bell pepper, diced

→ Legumes

07 - 2 cans (15 oz each) black beans, drained and rinsed

→ Liquids

08 - 4 cups vegetable broth
09 - 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes with juice

→ Spices and Seasonings

10 - 1 tsp ground cumin
11 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
12 - 1/2 tsp ground coriander
13 - 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
14 - 1 bay leaf
15 - 1/2 tsp salt
16 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
17 - 2 tbsp olive oil

→ Garnishes

18 - Chopped fresh cilantro
19 - Lime wedges
20 - Sliced avocado

# Directions:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion, carrot, celery, and bell pepper. Cook 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 diced sweet potatoes, ground cumin, smoked paprika, ground coriander, cayenne pepper, and bay leaf. Cook for 2 minutes while stirring frequently.
04 - Pour in vegetable broth and diced tomatoes with their juice. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.
05 - Reduce heat to low, cover the pot, and simmer for 15 minutes until sweet potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork.
06 - Add drained and rinsed black beans, salt, and black pepper. Simmer uncovered for 5 to 10 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
07 - Remove bay leaf from the pot. Using an immersion blender, partially blend the soup to achieve a creamy texture while retaining some vegetable chunks. Alternatively, leave the soup chunky if preferred.
08 - Adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed. Ladle into bowls and serve hot with garnishes of fresh cilantro, lime wedges, or avocado slices.

# Chef Secrets:

01 -
  • It tastes like you've been simmering this for hours, but honestly you're eating it in less than an hour from start to finish.
  • Your gut will thank you—the fiber content is real, and it doesn't feel like you're choking down health food.
  • The spice blend is forgiving enough for beginners but interesting enough to keep you coming back.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the canned black beans or you'll end up with a murky, starchy soup instead of a clear, vibrant one—I learned this the hard way.
  • Partial blending is the secret to getting that comfort-food creaminess without making it into baby food; you want to hear some texture when you chew.
03 -
  • If you're making this ahead, the flavors actually deepen and blend better after a day in the fridge—it's even better on day two.
  • Don't blend it while it's boiling hot or you'll create a pressure bomb in your pot; let it cool slightly first, or use a towel over the top of your immersion blender to contain any splashes.
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