Black Bean and Sweet Potato Soup
Black Bean and Sweet Potato Soup
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 4
Serves 4-5
Ingredients
- tablespoon water
- 1½ - 1¾ cups chopped onions (one large onion)
- 1½ cups combination of chopped red peppers and green peppers
- teaspoon sea salt
- piece freshly ground black pepper
- teaspoon cumin seeds
- teaspoon dried oregano leaves
- ¼ teaspoon allspice (rounded)
- ¼ teaspoon (or less/more, to taste) red pepper flakes
- clove garlic
- 4½ - 5 cups black beans (reserve 1 cup; drain and rinse if using canned - about three 14 or 15 ounce cans)
- cup water
- tablespoon tomato paste
- tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
- ½ - 1 teaspoon pure maple syrup
- piece bay leaf
- 1½ cups cubed (in small chunks, about ½”) yellow sweet potato (or can substitute white potato)
- piece chopped cilantro
- piece lime wedges
- piece chopped avocado
Instructions
- In a large pot over medium-high heat, add water, onions, red and green peppers, salt and pepper, cumin seeds, oregano, allspice, and red pepper flakes. Let cook for 5-7 minutes until onions and peppers start to soften.
- Add garlic. Cover, reduce heat to medium, and let cook another few minutes to soften garlic - if sticking/burning, add another splash of water.
- After a few minutes of cooking, add 3½ cups beans (reserving one cup of beans), water, tomato paste, vinegar, lime juice, and maple syrup (start with ½ teaspoon).
- Using an immersion blender, puree soup until fairly smooth.
- Increase heat to bring to boil, add bay leaf and diced sweet potatoes, then once at boil reduce and let simmer for 20-30 minutes.
- Add remaining cup of black beans and extra maple syrup if desired (taste test). Stir through, let simmer for another few minutes, then serve, topping with cilantro if desired and with lime wedges. Also delicious to top soup with some chopped seasoned avocado or a simple guacamole.
Sweet Potato Tip: Sometimes I have leftover sweet potato home fries that have been seasoned with just sea salt. If so, I take a recipe and chopping shortcut and simply add these to my soup during the last 5-10 minutes of cooking, just to heat through.