Smoky Black Bean Soup

Black beans are an ingredient that I don’t think I will ever get tired of. I always have a big stock of them in my pantry. They are a pantry staple for me because they can easily serve as a base for so many different recipes.

Many of the recipes featuring black beans here on GoodLife Eats have been created out of sheer desperation: it was dinner and a bean recipe was easy to throw together.

This Black Bean Soup with Andouille Sausage was no exception. The soup has just a bit of spice with the andouille sausage that is enough for me. I loved the hint of smokiness from the smoked paprika and ancho powder. Another bonus, Madeline will eat this because she likes chili and she likes sausage. And it freezes well.

The soup is made thick by pureeing some of the beans and stirring that into the recipe, but it makes for a wonderful hearty soup that is perfect for the cooler evenings that still come around as the weather tries to decide if it wants to be winter or spring. 

We had some leftovers after eating it for two nights. I served the last bit of black bean soup on top of some leftover pasta for a quick lunch and it was great!

What are your favorite ways to cook black beans?

Smoky Black Bean Soup with Andouille Sausage

Yield: 6-8 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

Black beans, onions, peppers, garlic, and smoky spices pair with andouille sausage in this hearty, easy Black Bean Soup Recipe.

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Ingredients

• 12 ounces andouille sausage (I used a chicken andouille sausage)
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 large purple onion, diced
• 5 large cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1/8 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/8 teaspoon ancho powder
• 4 cans black beans, drained (I like Bush's brand)
• 2 1/2 cups chicken broth, plus extra if desired
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1/8 - 1/4 cayenne, if desired
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 1 orange or yellow bell pepper, diced
• cilantro, sour cream, and lime wedges for garnish

Instructions

1. Cut the andouille sausage into half moon slices. Brown in a large dutch oven over medium-high heat, adding olive oil if necessary.
2. When brown, remove and set aside in a bowl. Add olive oil to the dutch oven and saute the onion and peppers over medium heat until golden and tender, about 3-5 minutes.
3. Add the garlic, cumin, smoked paprika, and ancho powder and saute an additional minute.
4. Meanwhile, drain 1 1/2 cans black beans.
5. Add to a food processor or blender with 1 1/2 cups of broth. Puree until smooth.
6. Add to the dutch oven with remaining broth and beans.
7. Return the sausage to the dutch oven along with the Worcestershire, salt, pepper, cayenne (if desired), oregano and bay leaves.
8. Bring to a slow boil, then turn heat to low and cover halfway with a lid. Simmer for 20 minutes.
9. Remove bay leaves and serve topped with cilantro, sour cream, and lime wedges.

Notes

How to Freeze Black Bean Soup

1. Allow the soup cool completely before transferring it to your preferred storage method. I like freezer gallon bags for large amounts or freezer-safe glass containers containers for individual servings.
2. Label the container with contents and date.
3. If you’re freezing in bags, lay the bags flat on a baking sheet before transferring to the freezer. This helps them take up less space and thaw faster.
4. Storage containers can be transferred directly to the fridge.

Thawing Tips

• When you’re ready to eat the frozen black bean soup, either reheat it on the stove or place it in your fridge first to thaw.
• You can also reheat it in the microwave if you prefer, but this works best if you thaw the soup first and heat it in a microwave safe container.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Knife Block Set
• 
  Mixing Spoon
• 
  Soup Ladle
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  Soup Bowls
• 
  Blender
• 
  Food Processor

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 392Total Fat: 19gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 38mgSodium: 1133mgCarbohydrates: 39gFiber: 12gSugar: 6gProtein: 19g

GoodLifeEats.com offers recipe nutritional information as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although GoodLifeEats.com makes every effort to provide accurate information, these figures are only estimates.

Did you make this?

I’d love it if you let me know what you think! Snap a photo and tag me on Instagram at @goodlifeeats with the hashtag #goodlifeeatsrecipes so I can see what you’re cooking up in your kitchen!

I have an ongoing relationship with Bush’s Beans where I am compensated for my time, however this is a brand that I have always used in my own kitchen and any opinions expressed regarding the product are my own.