Vegetarian Cuban Black Bean Soup with Smoky Flavor

Ingredients

• 1 pound dried black beans
• ¼ cup vegetable oil
• 1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
• 2 teaspoons cumin seeds
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 8 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoons dried Mexican oregano, crushed between your fingers
• 2 bay leaves
• 6 cups vegetable stock
• 1 cup diced smoked tempeh bacon (such as Lightlife® Organic Smoky Tempeh Strips®)
• 2 tablespoons dark rum (Optional)
• 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and chopped
• 2 cups water
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt
• salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• ½ cup sliced hard-boiled eggs (Optional)
• ½ cup finely chopped red onion

Step 1

Soak the black beans in a large bowl, covering them with a few inches of cool water. Let them soak for at least 8 hours or overnight. When you’re ready, drain and rinse the beans well.

Step 2

Heat some oil in a big pot over medium heat. Add the chopped yellow onion, paprika, and cumin seeds, stirring them around until everything smells fragrant, about 3 minutes. Then toss in the chopped red and green bell peppers, minced garlic, oregano, and bay leaves. Cook everything together until the onions are soft and the peppers have started to soften, around 6 to 8 minutes.

Step 3

Add the vegetable stock, soaked black beans, tempeh, a splash of rum, and the jalapeño pepper to the pot. Turn the heat up to medium-high and bring it all to a gentle simmer. Once simmering, lower the heat to medium-low and let it cook uncovered until the beans are tender, about 45 minutes.

Step 4

Pour in some water, then season the soup with about 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt. Keep stirring occasionally as the soup cooks longer, about 30 to 40 minutes, until the beans start breaking down and the soup thickens up nicely. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. Don’t forget to fish out and discard the bay leaves.

Step 5

Serve the soup hot, garnished with slices of hard-boiled eggs and a sprinkle of chopped red onion for a little extra bite and color. Enjoy!