Cuban Black Bean Soup in the Slow Cooker

This isn't your mother's slow cooker recipe! No cans of creamed soup or spice packets here. This is a fragrantly spiced, slightly tangy soup full of vegetables and Cuban goodness that's good tasting and good for you. And there's no need to soak the beans overnight! Serve over steaming hot brown rice.

• Preparation Time: 10 mins
• Cooking Time: 4 hr
• Total Time: 4 hr 10 mins
• Calories: 191 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 ½ teaspoons salt
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 large carrot, diced
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
• 1 (8 ounce) package dry black beans
• 3 dashes hot pepper sauce, or to taste
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can water
• 2 stalks celery, cut into thirds
• 1 teaspoon hot chile flakes

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Rinse beans and remove any particles or bad beans; place in a saucepan and cover with 2 inches water. Add celery and bay leaves. Bring to a boil and cook over high heat, adding more water as necessary, for 10 minutes. Drain beans and remove and discard celery.

Step 2

Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add onion, bell pepper, and carrot; saute until onions are fairly translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, cumin, and chile flakes; continue to cook until heated through and fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from the heat.

Step 3

Place tomatoes and water in a slow cooker. Add onion mixture, beans, and bay leaves.

Step 4

Cook until beans are tender enough that you can easily smash one between your tongue and the top of your mouth, on Low for 6 hours or High for 4 hours. Add vinegar. Taste to adjust seasonings and add hot pepper sauce.