Easy Black Bean Soup - Two Peas & Their Pod (2024)

FAQs

How to thicken up black bean soup? ›

In a separate bowl, dissolve a teaspoon or two of cornstarch or all-purpose flour in a small amount of cold water. Add the slurry to the bubbling soup. The soup should thicken up. Add more cornstarch or flour as needed until the soup reaches your desired consistency.

The antioxidants, fiber, protein, and carbohydrates in black beans make them nutritionally powerful. A diet rich in beans can reduce your risk of several serious medical conditions and help your body to process calories more effectively.

Turn the heat to low and cover, stirring the beans occasionally. Don't let it reach a boil. Cook soaked beans for about 45 to 60 minutes and unsoaked for about 50 to 65 minutes. Check the beans for doneness by mashing them against the side of the pot.

You can keep leftover black bean soup in a container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Black bean soup also freezes beautifully. Pour room temperature soup into a freezer container or freezer bag and freeze for up to 2 months. Make sure you label and date your soup so you know what it is!

Add Flour Or Cornstarch

You can thicken soup by adding flour, cornstarch, or another starchy substitute. For the best results, never add flour or cornstarch directly to your soup. If you do, it will clump up on top. Instead, ladle a small amount of broth into a separate bowl and let it cool.

Broth. If you're not using the ham bone, chicken broth will help add flavor to your soup.

Unless the recipe tells you to keep the canned beans in their liquid, you should drain your can and give the beans a good rinse before using. This will improve the flavor and texture of your finished dish. Open your cans of beans using a can opener.

Black beans are naturally low in sodium and contain potassium, calcium, and magnesium, all of which have been found to decrease blood pressure naturally.

Canned black beans are a versatile, ready-to-use ingredient that you can use to boost the nutrient content of many dishes. They're a rich source of plant-based protein and fiber. This makes them a weight-loss-friendly food that may also help you manage blood sugar levels and lower your risk of heart disease.

Short answer: They take longer to cook. Long answer: Many people claim that soaking beans is not necessary. The argument for this method is while it does take longer to cook, unsoaked beans end up having better flavor.

Why are my black beans still hard after boiling? ›

Cooking with hard water

If you pre-soaked your beans and still find that they are not softening, it may be because you are cooking them in hard water.

If the water level drops below the beans, add more water so the beans are covered at all times. The beans are done cooking when they're all tender; you can test this as they by smooshing a bean or two against the side of the pot with a fork — it should collapse easily, but not be mushy.

Your cooked beans last about 3 to 5 days in the fridge. To store them, let the beans cool down after cooking, then pop them in the refrigerator within an hour. Getting them stored quickly and chilled in the fridge will help prevent the growth of bacteria.

Add a thickener.

If your beans are still too watery after prolonged cooking and mashing, consider adding a thickener like cornstarch, all-purpose flour, or arrowroot. To do this, first, make a slurry of equal parts thickener and water, then slowly add it to your refried beans. They should thicken considerably.

Add flour or cornflour

You can also use flour or cornflour to thicken a soup. Put a tablespoon of either into a small bowl and stir in 2-3 tbsp of the soup until you have a smooth mixture. Stir this back into the soup and bring it to a simmer.

If it's too thick.

Like a sauce that is too thin, a dish that is too thick is a simple fix! All you need to do is add more of the recipe's cooking liquid — such as wine, broth or cream.

If it isn't thick enough, mash more of the beans. What can be done to thin out soup after blending? Add liquid. Stock, cream, milk, whatever the soup is based upon, just add some more, simmer, taste, re-season, serve.