Smokey Vegetarian Cuban Black Bean Soup

Vegetarian black bean soup made with tempeh, veggies, and a splash of rum is a hearty, Cuban-inspired meal both vegetarians and meat-eaters will love.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 1 hr 25 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 40 mins
• Calories: 356 Calories

Ingredients

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

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Place black beans into a large container and cover with several inches of cool water; let stand 8 hours to overnight. Drain beans and rinse with fresh water.

Step 2

Heat oil in a large Dutch oven or stockpot over medium heat; cook and stir yellow onion, paprika, and cumin seeds until fragrant, about 3 minutes. Add red bell pepper, green bell pepper, garlic, oregano, and bay leaves; cook and stir until onion is translucent and bell peppers are tender, 6 to 8 minutes.

Step 3

Mix vegetable stock, black beans, tempeh, rum, and jalapeno pepper into onion mixture. Increase heat to medium-high, bring to a simmer, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until beans are tender, about 45 minutes.

Step 4

Pour water into bean mixture; season with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until beans begin to fall apart and soup thickens, 30 to 40 minutes; season with salt and pepper. Remove and discard bay leaves from soup.

Step 5

Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with hard-boiled eggs and red onion.