Spiced Cuban Black Bean Soup with Smoked Paprika

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-07-14 · Updated 2026-07-14

A hearty, smoky black bean soup infused with cumin, smoked paprika, and fresh herbs, perfect for comforting meals. This Latin American-inspired soup recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 105 minutes, pairs dried black beans, water, olive oil for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 260 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.

Ingredients

• 1 cup dried black beans
• 6 cups water
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium, diced yellow onion
• 4, minced garlic cloves
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 2 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 medium, diced red bell pepper
• 1/4 cup, chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp lime juice

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Rinse 1 cup dried black beans and soak in water overnight or for at least 6 hours. Drain and rinse again.
2. Step 2: In a large pot, heat 2 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Add 1 medium diced yellow onion and sauté for 5 minutes until translucent. Add 4 minced garlic cloves and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
3. Step 3: Add the soaked beans, 6 cups water, 1 tsp ground cumin, 2 tsp smoked paprika, 1 bay leaf, and 1 diced medium red bell pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1 to 1.5 hours until beans are tender.
4. Step 4: Remove the bay leaf. Using an immersion blender, puree about half the soup for a creamier texture, leaving the rest chunky.
5. Step 5: Stir in 1 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, and 2 tbsp lime juice. Simmer for 5 more minutes, then serve hot.