Sweet Potato Black Bean Soup (Print Version)

Hearty, creamy soup with sweet potatoes, black beans, and aromatic spices. Ready in 45 minutes for a nutritious 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
19 - Lime wedges
20 - Sliced avocado

# How To:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, celery, and bell pepper. Sauté for 5 minutes until vegetables are softened.
02 - Add minced garlic to the pot and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Stir in sweet potatoes, cumin, smoked paprika, coriander, cayenne, and bay leaf. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently.
04 - Pour in vegetable broth and diced tomatoes with juice. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil.
05 - Reduce heat to a simmer, cover the pot, and cook for 15 minutes or until sweet potatoes are tender.
06 - Add black beans, salt, and black pepper to the pot. Simmer uncovered for 5 to 10 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
07 - Remove bay leaf from the soup. For a creamier consistency, use an immersion blender to partially puree the soup while maintaining some texture. Adjust seasoning as needed.
08 - Ladle soup into bowls and serve hot. Garnish with fresh cilantro, lime wedges, or sliced avocado as desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The sweet potatoes break down slightly while cooking, creating a naturally creamy texture without any dairy that somehow makes you feel hugged from the inside out.
  • You can easily adjust the consistency from chunky to smooth depending on your mood, making it perfect for those nights when you want something different but cant quite put your finger on what.
02 -
  • Adding the beans too early can cause them to break down completely and turn the soup muddy, so be sure to hold them until the last 5-10 minutes of cooking.
  • Dont skip the final squeeze of lime when serving – the acidity brightens all the flavors and transforms the entire bowl in a way that seemed almost magical the first time I discovered it.
03 -
  • For a creamier version without changing the flavor profile, reserve about a cup of the cooked sweet potatoes, mash them separately, and stir back in – a technique my culinary school friend taught me that creates incredible texture without diluting the spice balance.
  • Chopping the sweet potatoes into consistently sized 1/2-inch cubes ensures they cook evenly and creates the perfect texture contrast with the beans.
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