Winter Silhouette Black Bean Soup

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-03 · Updated 2026-04-03

A velvety black bean soup with a vibrant radish and cilantro garnish that creates a striking silhouette when served in a clear bowl, inspired by winter tree silhouettes. This american-inspired soups (vegetarian) ready in about 110 minutes pairs dried black beans, finely diced onion, diced carrots for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 4, 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
• 1, finely diced onion
• 2, diced carrots
• 2 stalks, diced celery
• 3 cloves, minced garlic
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1/4 cup, finely chopped cilantro
• 2, thinly sliced radish

Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add 1 finely diced onion, 2 diced carrots, and 2 diced celery stalks, and cook for 8 minutes until tender and golden.
2. Step 2: Add 3 minced garlic cloves and 1 tsp smoked paprika, and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
3. Step 3: Add 1 cup rinsed dried black beans, 4 cups vegetable broth, salt, and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1.5 hours until beans are very tender.
4. Step 4: Discard the bay leaf (if used) and use an immersion blender to puree the soup until smooth.
5. Step 5: Ladle soup into a clear bowl. Top with 1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro and arrange 2 thinly sliced radishes in a circular pattern around the edge to create a silhouette effect.