Cuban Black Bean Soup

I make this wonderful Cuban black bean soup in a crock-pot which is great because it basically cooks itself and dinner is ready when we are. I use re-hydrated black beans and simply add all the ingredients in at once – except for the garnish of course.

This soup is not only delicious it is nutritious with all the protein, fiber and vitamins from the beans and vegetables. You will need to soak the beans over-night so plan ahead for this. Slow cookers work at low temperatures that create moist heat cooking. Therefore, it is really important that you do not uncover the pot until your food is done and ready.

I garnish this with chopped tomatoes, chopped green onions and crumbled cheese. If you want to keep this soup vegan please omit the cheese.

Finally, this is a large batch of soup so you will probably have left overs. Pack some thermoses and send this appetizing Cuban black bean soup to school of take it to work.

This is what you are going to need to make this delicious and nutritious Cuban black bean soup:

Serves six

16 oz. of soaked black beans
1 medium yellow onion – chopped
3 medium tomatoes – peeled and chopped
1 large carrot – peeled and diced
1 chili pepper – seeded, membrane removed and finely chopped
2 celery stalks with leaves – finely chopped
4 garlic cloves – minced
2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. black pepper
1 TBS cumin
1 tsp. dried oregano
8 cups boiling water
Chopped tomatoes, crumbled fresh cheese (omit if making vegan) and chopped scallion greens for garnish

Place all of your ingredients in a slow cooker. Mix well and cover. Cook on high for 6 hours.
Uncover the pot and- if you have an immersion blender, blend until 3/4 of the soup is creamed. If you do not have one, let the soup cool for a little while and blend 3/4 of it, in batches, in a stand-up blender. Return the creamed soup to the pot with the remaining soup. Mix well. Taste for salt and re-season if necessary.

Ladle into bowls and garnish with chopped tomatoes, crumbled white cheese (I used Cotija — omit this if you are looking to keep this vegan) and chopped scallions.

Soup w/o garnish – CALORIES 258.36; FAT 1.34 grs (sat 0.26; mono 0.11; poly 0.47); PROTEIN 15.04 grs ; FIBER 11.95 grs; CARBS 48.49 grs; CHOLESTEROL 0.00 mg; IRON 3.8 mg; SODIUM 816.08 mg; CALCIUM 131.98 mg

Print the Cuban Black Bean Soup Recipe Here