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Flavorful Smoky Black Bean Soup Recipe with Easy Creamy Lime Crema

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A comforting and satisfying smoky black bean soup simmered with chipotle peppers and cumin, topped with a tangy and creamy lime crema. Perfect for cozy dinners, potlucks, or anytime you want a flavorful, easy-to-make meal.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups dried black beans, soaked overnight (or 3 cans, drained and rinsed for shortcut)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 chipotle peppers in adobo, chopped (adjust to taste)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 6 cups vegetable broth (low-sodium recommended)
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 lime, juiced
  • 1 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt (or dairy-free yogurt for vegan option)
  • A handful fresh cilantro, chopped (optional, for garnish)

Instructions

  1. If using dried beans, soak them overnight in plenty of water (about 8 hours). Drain and rinse.
  2. Place soaked beans in a large pot and cover with fresh water by 2 inches. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 1 hour or until tender. Skip this step if using canned beans.
  3. Heat olive oil over medium heat in the same pot. Add diced onion and sauté for 5-7 minutes until translucent and soft.
  4. Add minced garlic and sauté for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant but not browned.
  5. Stir in ground cumin, smoked paprika, and chopped chipotle peppers. Cook for 1 minute to toast the spices and release their flavor.
  6. Add cooked or canned black beans, vegetable broth, and bay leaf. Stir well and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook uncovered for 25-30 minutes to meld flavors and thicken slightly.
  7. Remove the bay leaf. Using an immersion blender, puree about half the soup in the pot, leaving the rest chunky for texture. If using a regular blender, blend half the soup in batches and return to pot.
  8. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Add more chipotle or smoked paprika if desired. Simmer for another 5 minutes.
  9. In a small bowl, mix sour cream or Greek yogurt with lime juice until smooth and creamy to make the lime crema.
  10. Ladle soup into bowls, drizzle generously with lime crema, and garnish with chopped cilantro if desired. Serve warm.

Notes

Use canned beans for a shortcut. Adjust chipotle peppers to control heat level. Blend only half the soup for a creamy yet chunky texture. Avoid burning garlic by keeping heat moderate. Add broth or water if soup is too thick. For vegan version, substitute sour cream with coconut yogurt or cashew cream. Soup flavors deepen after resting overnight. Freeze without lime crema and add fresh when serving.

Nutrition

Keywords: black bean soup, smoky soup, chipotle, lime crema, easy soup, vegetarian, gluten-free, creamy soup, healthy soup

Find it online: https://atomicbite.com/flavorful-smoky-black-bean-soup-recipe-with-easy-creamy-lime-crema/