Authentic Cuban Black Bean Soup with Smoky Mojo Seasoning

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

A rich, deeply flavorful bean soup inspired by Havana's street food stalls, featuring smoky spices and slow-simmered perfection. This Cuban-inspired soup recipe, ready in about 140 minutes, pairs black beans, smoked paprika, cumin for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 280 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 15 min Cook: 125 min Serves 6 Cuban cuisine 280 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Drain and rinse soaked black beans, then add to a pot with 6 cups water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer uncovered for 1 hour until beans are tender but not mushy.
  2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add 4 minced garlic cloves and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant, then stir in 2 tsp smoked paprika and 1 tsp cumin for 30 seconds to toast the spices.
  3. Step 3: Add 2 cups diced tomatoes to the skillet and cook for 5 minutes until tomatoes break down into a thick sauce, stirring often.
  4. Step 4: Pour the tomato-spice mixture into the pot with beans, add 4 cups chicken broth and 1 tbsp orange zest. Simmer gently for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until flavors meld and soup thickens slightly.
  5. Step 5: Remove from heat, stir in 1/4 cup chopped cilantro, and serve hot with additional cilantro for garnish.

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