Sweet Potato Black Bean Soup (Print Version)

Hearty soup with creamy sweet potatoes, black beans, and aromatic spices for a warming, fiber-rich meal.

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

# How-To:

01 - Heat 2 tablespoons 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 and cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently 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 often.
04 - Pour in vegetable broth and diced tomatoes with juice. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and cook for 15 minutes until sweet potatoes are tender.
05 - Add drained black beans, salt, and black pepper. Simmer uncovered for 5 to 10 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
06 - Remove bay leaf. For a creamier consistency, use an immersion blender to partially blend the soup, leaving some vegetable chunks intact. Adjust seasoning to taste.
07 - Serve hot and garnish with fresh cilantro, lime wedges, or sliced avocado as desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's the kind of soup that tastes like comfort but doesn't leave you feeling sluggish afterward.
  • Black beans and sweet potatoes together create this naturally creamy texture without any cream at all.
  • The spice balance hits that sweet spot between warm and exciting without ever crossing into too-much.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the canned black beans; the starchy liquid they're packed in will cloud your beautiful broth and make the whole thing look less appetizing.
  • The immersion blender is your friend if you want creaminess without cream—even partial blending transforms the texture completely, and you can control how much smoothness you get.
03 -
  • Buy the best vegetable broth you can afford or make your own—it's the backbone of this soup and watery broth will disappoint you no matter what else you do right.
  • Partially blending the soup creates the creaminess people expect from a richer dish, but you keep all the texture and bite of the vegetables and beans.
Go Back