Sweet Potato Black Bean Soup (Printable)

Creamy sweet potatoes and protein-rich black beans simmered with cumin, smoked paprika, and vegetables for a hearty, warming meal.

# Ingredient List:

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

→ Garnishes

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

# Steps:

01 - Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large 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 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, stirring frequently to distribute spices evenly.
04 - Pour in the 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 or until sweet potatoes are completely tender when pierced with a fork.
06 - Add the drained black beans, salt, and black pepper to the pot. Simmer uncovered for 5 to 10 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
07 - Remove the bay leaf. For a creamier consistency, use an immersion blender to partially puree the soup while maintaining some chunky texture.
08 - Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Ladle into bowls and garnish with fresh cilantro, lime wedges, or sliced avocado if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The natural sweetness of the potatoes balances perfectly with the earthiness of black beans, creating a bowl that tastes indulgent while being incredibly nutritious.
  • You can customize the texture from chunky to velvety smooth depending on your mood, and it actually tastes even better the next day once the flavors meld overnight.
02 -
  • Adding the spices to the oil before the liquid ingredients intensifies their flavor dramatically, a technique I completely overlooked the first few times I made this soup.
  • Sweet potatoes cook faster than regular potatoes, so check them earlier than you might expect to avoid ending up with mush instead of satisfying chunks.
03 -
  • If your sweet potatoes are taking too long to soften, cover the pot but leave the lid slightly ajar to allow some evaporation while trapping heat.
  • Reserve a few tablespoons of the diced vegetables before cooking and sprinkle them on top of the finished soup for a fresh, colorful garnish that hints at whats inside.
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