Smoky Black Eyed Pea Corn Soup (Printable Version)
Comforting thick soup with smoky black eyed peas, sweet corn, and warming spices
# What You'll Need:
→ Legumes & Vegetables
01 - 2 cups cooked black eyed peas (or 1 can, drained and rinsed)
02 - 1 1/2 cups sweet corn kernels (fresh, frozen, or canned)
03 - 1 large onion, diced
04 - 2 medium carrots, diced
05 - 2 celery stalks, diced
06 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
08 - 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes, with juice
→ Liquids & Base
09 - 4 cups vegetable broth
10 - 1 tablespoon tomato paste
11 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
→ Spices & Seasonings
12 - 1 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika
13 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
14 - 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
15 - 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
16 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
→ Garnishes
17 - Fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped
18 - Sliced green onions
19 - Fresh lime wedges for serving
# How To Make:
01 - Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add the diced onion, carrots, celery, and red bell pepper. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened and the onion is translucent.
02 - Stir in the minced garlic, smoked paprika, ground cumin, dried thyme, and cayenne pepper if using. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly, until the spices are fragrant and toasted.
03 - Add the tomato paste to the pot and cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently to coat the vegetables and deepen the paste's color.
04 - Pour in the diced tomatoes with their juice, vegetable broth, cooked black eyed peas, and sweet corn kernels. Stir well to combine all ingredients evenly.
05 - Bring the soup to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Simmer uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and the soup has thickened to a hearty consistency.
06 - Taste the soup and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper as needed. Adjust any spices to your preference.
07 - Ladle the hot soup into bowls. Top with chopped fresh cilantro or parsley, sliced green onions, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The smoky depth from paprika and cumin makes it taste like it cooked all day when it barely took an hour.
- Sweet corn bursts through the savory broth and keeps every spoonful interesting.
- It reheats beautifully, so make the whole pot even if you are only feeding two.
02 -
- Do not skip the tomato paste step because it builds a layer of richness that you simply cannot get later.
- If your soup tastes flat at the end, a squeeze of lime juice and another pinch of salt will almost always fix it.
03 -
- Rinse canned black eyed peas thoroughly under cold water until the foam disappears for a cleaner tasting broth.
- Let the soup rest off the heat for ten minutes before serving because the texture and flavor settle into something noticeably better.