Cuban Black Bean Soup (Sopa de Frijol Negro)

My homemade version of classic Cuban black bean soup (sopa de frijol negro) is made with dried black beans, ham hock, Cuban sofrito, and spices. A comforting dinner soup that cooks “low and slow”, it’s creamy yet brothy, wonderfully savory, and easy to make at home following a few simple steps.

📝 Ingredients

• 1 lb dried black beans
• 1 smoked ham hock ((omit to keep the soup vegetarian))
• 2 tablespoons olive oil (or more as needed)
• 1/2 cup diced onion (diced)
• 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
• 1/2 cup diced green bell pepper
• 4 cloves garlic (minced)
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2 teaspoon salt (or more to taste)
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper (or more to taste)
• Sliced avocado
• Chopped cilantro
• Sour cream
• Lime wedges

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1--- Soak The Beans ---
2. 2In a Dutch oven, add the black beans and ham hock. Add enough water to cover the beans entirely. Simmer, covered with the lid, for 1 1/2 hours to 2 hours or until the beans are tender.
3. 3Add more water as they cook so they don't dry out. Sometimes it may require more than 2 hours for the beans to soften so keep your eye on it and add water as needed.
4. 4--- Make The Cuban Black Bean Soup ---
5. 5In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add the onions and bell peppers and sauté for 1-2 minutes. Add in the minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds.
6. 6Stir in ground cumin, dried oregano, vinegar, sugar, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Sauté for another 3 minutes.
7. 7Add the sofrito to the Dutch oven. Bring to a boil then turn down the heat to LOW. Simmer for 30-40 minutes until the beans are creamy and delicious. While cooking, feel free to mash some of the beans with a wooden spoon.
8. 8Remove the bay leaf and ham hock from the pot. Make sure all the meat fell off the ham hock. You may have to shred it a bit with two forks. Taste and adjust seasonings.
9. 9If you're not a fan of texture, you can use an immersion blender (away from the heat) to blend the soup to your liking. Serve the black bean soup with your favorite garnishes. Enjoy!