Smoky Black Bean Sweet Potato (Printable Version)

Smoky, hearty mix of sweet potatoes, black beans, and spices for cozy, gluten-free weeknight meals.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and diced (about 1.1 lb)
02 - 1 large onion, diced
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 large red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1 large carrot, diced
06 - 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and finely chopped (optional)

→ Beans and Liquids

07 - 2 cans (14 oz each) black beans, drained and rinsed
08 - 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
09 - 4 cups vegetable broth
10 - 1 tbsp tomato paste

→ Spices and Seasonings

11 - 1 ½ tsp smoked paprika
12 - 1 tsp ground cumin
13 - ½ tsp ground coriander
14 - ½ tsp dried oregano
15 - ¼ tsp ground black pepper
16 - ¾ tsp salt, or to taste
17 - 2 tbsp olive oil
18 - Juice of 1 lime

→ Garnishes

19 - Fresh cilantro, chopped
20 - Sliced avocado
21 - Sour cream or dairy-free alternative

# How To Make:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, and bell pepper. Sauté for 5-6 minutes until softened.
02 - Stir in garlic and jalapeño; cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add sweet potatoes, smoked paprika, cumin, coriander, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Stir to coat vegetables evenly in spices.
04 - Mix in tomato paste, then add diced tomatoes, black beans, and vegetable broth. Bring to a boil.
05 - Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 20-25 minutes, until sweet potatoes are fork-tender.
06 - Taste and adjust salt, pepper, or spices as needed.
07 - Stir in lime juice. For a thicker texture, use an immersion blender to partially blend the soup.
08 - Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with fresh cilantro, sliced avocado, and a dollop of sour cream if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The smoked paprika does most of the heavy lifting, giving you depth that tastes like you cooked this for hours when you barely broke a sweat.
  • It freezes beautifully, so you can make a double batch and forget about it until the night you have zero energy and need dinner to appear.
02 -
  • If you add the lime juice while the soup is still boiling, the bright flavor cooks off and you lose the entire point of squeezing it in at all.
  • The sweet potatoes continue to soften as the soup sits, so pull the pot off heat when they are just barely tender if you plan to reheat leftovers the next day.
03 -
  • A pinch of chipotle powder or a few drops of liquid smoke added with the other spices transforms this from gently smoky to hauntingly complex with zero extra effort.
  • Toasting the cumin and coriander in the dry pot for thirty seconds before adding the oil blooms their essential oils and doubles their flavor impact.

Go Back