Sweet Potato Black Bean Soup (Printable)

Hearty soup with creamy sweet potatoes, black beans, and aromatic spices. Fiber-rich and protein-packed comfort food.

# What You'll Need:

→ 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 & Seasonings

10 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
11 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
12 - 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
13 - 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
14 - 1 bay leaf
15 - 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
16 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
17 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

→ Garnishes

18 - Fresh chopped cilantro, optional
19 - Lime wedges, optional
20 - Sliced avocado, optional

# How to Make It:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add diced onion, carrot, celery, and bell pepper. Sauté for 5 minutes until vegetables begin to soften.
02 - Add minced garlic 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, stirring frequently.
04 - Pour vegetable broth and diced tomatoes with juice into the pot. Bring mixture to a boil.
05 - Reduce heat to low, cover pot, and simmer for 15 minutes until sweet potatoes are completely tender.
06 - Add drained black beans, salt, and black pepper. Simmer uncovered for 5 to 10 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
07 - Remove bay leaf. For creamier consistency, use an immersion blender to partially blend soup while maintaining some texture.
08 - Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. Serve hot, garnished with fresh cilantro, lime wedges, or sliced avocado.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It fills you up without any of that heavy, sluggish feeling afterward, and your digestion will thank you for the fiber.
  • One pot, no fussing with separate components, just drop things in and let the flavors get to know each other.
  • The spice balance feels adventurous but never aggressive, so it works whether you're cooking for yourself or people who prefer gentler flavors.
02 -
  • If your soup tastes flat even with all the spices, it's probably because you haven't salted it enough, so add a pinch more and taste again instead of assuming something went wrong.
  • The immersion blender trick makes the difference between thin soup and something that actually coats your spoon, but only blend it a little or you'll end up with hummus.
03 -
  • If you want smoky depth without heat, add a pinch of chipotle powder instead of cayenne, and suddenly your soup tastes like something from a restaurant with mood lighting.
  • Greek yogurt stirred in right before eating adds creaminess and protein if you're not keeping it vegan, and it makes the soup feel more luxurious than it actually is.
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