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Pinto Bean Soup
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Vegan Pinto Bean Soup / Stew

The best vegan pinto bean soup recipe from scratch. Naturally thick and creamy without the addition of any thickeners, with deep layers of smoky flavors from Mexican seasonings, smoked paprika, bay and thyme.
Course Main Course
Cuisine Latin
Keyword Pinto Bean Soup, plant based, vegan,, wfpb
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes
Servings 6 people
Calories 170kcal
Author Florentina

Ingredients

  • 3 cups pinto beans -soaked for 6 hours
  • 3 carrots -rinsed & sliced into 1/2 inch rounds (no need to peel)
  • 1 small yellow onion -cut in half
  • 8 cloves garlic -in paper
  • 3 leaves bay
  • 8 sprigs thyme
  • 2 tbsp Mexican seasonings -salt free
  • 1 tbsp dry oregano
  • 1.5 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp sweet paprika
  • 1 pinch sea salt -to your taste
  • 1 pinch freshly cracked black pepper -to taste
  • 1/2 cup fresh onion chives -chopped
  • 1 lime -cut into wedges
  • 1 green chili pepper -thinly sliced for serving
  • filtered water - enough to cover by 3 inches
  • 1 strip Kombu (to boosts Iodine, optional)
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Add the soaked and rinsed pinto beans to a large heavy bottom stock pot together with the carrots, onion, garlic cloves, bay leaves and thyme + kombu if using. Cover with 8 cups of filtered water and bring to a rapid boil ( the beans should be covered by 2-3 inches of liquid). Turn the flame down to low and cover with a tight lid. 
  • Simmer for 45 minutes stirring a couple of times, then add the Mexican seasonings, oregano, sweet and smoked paprika. Cover and simmer for another 30 minutes or so until the beans have softened and have a creamy texture.
  • About 5 minutes before the soup is done remember to season to taste with smoked sea salt and black pepper. Remove from heat and discard the bay leaves and thyme sprigs. (Optional: discard the garlic cloves and onion If they haven’t disintegrated by this point.)
  • Serve with sliced avocado, a good squeeze of lime and spicy chili.

Video

Notes

  • Depending on how long your beans have soaked and how old they are, you might have to add some extra water during the cooking process, so make sure to adjust as needed.
  • I suggest adding 1 strip of Kombu to the beans to boost Iodine. Learn more on NutritionFacts. 

Nutrition

Calories: 170kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 60mg | Potassium: 608mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 5785IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 109mg | Iron: 4mg