Smoky Kidney Bean Tomato Soup (Printable Version)

Rich, comforting soup with kidney beans, tomatoes, and smoky spices. Perfect for chilly evenings.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
02 - 1 large yellow onion, diced
03 - 2 medium carrots, diced
04 - 2 celery stalks, diced
05 - 3 cloves garlic, minced

→ Beans & Tomatoes

06 - 2 cans (15 oz each) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
07 - 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
08 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste

→ Liquids

09 - 4 cups vegetable broth

→ Spices & Seasonings

10 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
11 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
12 - 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
13 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
14 - 1 teaspoon salt
15 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
16 - 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

→ Garnishes

17 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or cilantro
18 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

# How To Make:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery; sauté for 5–6 minutes, until softened.
02 - Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 minute more, until fragrant.
03 - Add smoked paprika, cumin, chili powder, black pepper, salt, oregano, and cayenne. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute to release aromas.
04 - Mix in tomato paste and cook for 1 minute, then add kidney beans and diced tomatoes with their juices.
05 - Pour in vegetable broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
06 - For thicker texture, partially blend with immersion blender, leaving some beans whole for texture.
07 - Stir in lemon juice if using. Taste and adjust salt or spices as desired.
08 - Ladle into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley or cilantro.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Comes together in under an hour with pantry staples you probably already have
  • Gets even better overnight, making it perfect for meal prep lunches
  • The smoky spices create a depth that makes everyone think you simmered it all day
02 -
  • Letting the spices cook in the oil for that full minute makes the difference between ordinary soup and something extraordinary
  • This soup thickens considerably as it sits, so add extra broth when reheating leftovers
  • The tomato paste step might seem unnecessary but it creates a richness that mimics hours of simmering
03 -
  • A teaspoon of liquid smoke or pinch of smoked sea salt amplifies the smoky profile dramatically
  • Mashing a few beans against the side of the pot creates a naturally creamy texture without any dairy

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