Black Bean Soup with Chipotle and Lime Recipe
This hearty and flavorful Black Bean Soup combines tender black beans with aromatic spices and chipotle peppers for a smoky kick. Perfect as a comforting meal, it features a creamy texture achieved by blending half of the soup, balanced by fresh lime juice and customizable toppings such as avocado and cilantro.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Soup Base
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 2 celery ribs, diced
- 1 medium carrot, diced
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
Main Ingredients
- 2 (15-ounce) cans black beans, including liquid
- 2 chipotle peppers from a can of chipotles in adobo sauce, chopped
- 2 tablespoons chipotle adobo sauce
- 1½ cups vegetable broth
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice, plus wedges for serving
Optional Toppings
- Avocado
- Cilantro
- Sour cream or vegan sour cream
- Pickled onions
- Serrano peppers
- Pepitas
Instructions
- Sauté vegetables: Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the diced onion, celery, and carrot, along with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 to 15 minutes until the vegetables are soft and fragrant.
- Add spices and garlic: Stir in the minced garlic, ground cumin, ground coriander, and chili powder. Cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly, to release the spices’ aroma without burning the garlic.
- Add beans and simmer: Pour in the black beans with their liquid, chopped chipotle peppers, chipotle adobo sauce, and vegetable broth. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 30 minutes to meld the flavors.
- Blend soup for creaminess: Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Transfer half of the soup to a blender and puree until smooth. Return the puree to the pot and stir to combine. Alternatively, use an immersion blender to puree half of the soup directly in the pot for a creamy yet chunky texture.
- Finish with lime and serve: Stir in fresh lime juice, adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed, and serve hot. Garnish with lime wedges and your choice of optional toppings like avocado, cilantro, sour cream, pickled onions, serrano peppers, or pepitas.
Notes
- For a spicier soup, add more chipotle peppers or adobo sauce according to taste.
- This soup can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and freezes well for up to 3 months.
- Use canned black beans with no added salt to control sodium levels.
- For a creamier soup, puree more than half or all of the soup depending on preference.
- Vegetable broth can be substituted with chicken broth if not strictly vegetarian.
Keywords: Black Bean Soup, vegetarian soup, Mexican soup, easy soup recipe, chipotle soup, healthy soup
