Guatemalan Black Bean Soup – Sopa de Frijol

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When life gets stressful, there’s something soothing about Guatemalan black bean soup.  It smells great while it’s cooking plus its rich earthy flavour is like soul food in a bowl. Lightly creamy, it’s the perfect make-ahead meal for easy lunches and dinners. 

It also happens to be a healthy and totally vegetarian soup. Ideal for chilly days, it’s just as welcome on a hot summer day when topped with a dollop of cool sour cream or crema.  

Although making the perfect black bean soup might sound simple, there’s a lot more to consider than you might think! Canned black beans, dried beans, pre-soaking or not pre-soaking the beans, spices or no spices…?   

Being married to a Guatemalan means the standards for black beans are crazy high in our household. Black beans are enjoyed in soups, in rice dishes, as frijoles volteados (refried), served alongside entree as a side dish and even stuffed inside caramelized plantain for a sweet dessert.  

My husband’s side of the family is so particular about black beans, they bring suitcases full of black beans with them when they travel! And we now take black beans with us to the Caribbean to deliver them to an ex-pat friend who gets homesick for Guatemalan black beans. 

 You too will become a fan once you dive into the delicious world of black beans Guatemalan-style! This recipe comes direct from my husband’s family ranch in Zacapa, Guatemala so it’s as authentic as it gets! 

Black Beans vs Black Turtle Beans 

While there’s lots of discussion in Guatemala about which region produces the best black beans (some claim Parramos produces the best), for the rest of us the main objective is to make sure you’re buying black turtle beans. 

They’re called black turtle beans because of their hard shell-like appearance. These small, black and shiny beans are members of the Phaseolus vulgaris species which is quite a bit different than Glycine max, the black soya beans used for paste in Asia.

High in protein and fiber, black turtle beans have been cultivated in the Americas long before Columbus crossed the Atlantic. The holy trinity of beans, maize and squash have been the foodstuff of the Maya, Aztec, Inca and other indigenous societies for thousands of years. 

Although you’ll also see fava beans, white beans and even red beans in Guatemala, black beans are without a doubt the most popular.

Once you have your supply of black beans on hand, store them in a cool dry place like a pantry. Be sure to sort them before using. When sorting just look for small stones that might have been incorporated into the bag. Rinse and drain the beans before using in a recipe.  

How to Make Authentic Guatemalan Black Bean Soup – Sopa de Frijol 

One thing you’ll notice right away about the ingredients for Guatemalan black bean soup is that there are really only a few main ingredients – black beans, onion, garlic, water and salt – in the soup itself. So that means no cumin, chicken broth, jalapeno peppers or other ingredients you’ll often see in other recipes.

But you can get creative with the garnish. Typical toppings include cilantro, crema (the Latin American equivalent of crème fraiche) and queso de Zacapa, a salty, sharp-flavoured dry cheese produced in homes in the lowlands of Guatemala. 

A good substitute for crema is sour cream, while alternatives to queso de Zacapa include Mexican cotija cheese, Greek feta or even parmesan cheese. 

Other delicious toppings include thinly-sliced radishes, fried strips of corn tortilla chips, chopped peppers or shredded cabbage. The garnishes can be set at the table for all to pick and put on their soup as they wish.

1. The first step in using black beans is to sort them to remove any small stones. Then rinse them carefully. 

2. While many people begin making their black beans by soaking the beans overnight, it’s actually not necessary. According to recent tests by Epicurious, it’s a myth that you need to soak beans overnight. You don’t even need to use the quick soak method, which involves bringing the beans to a boil and then allowing them to soak for 2 hours.

Did you know that cooking dried black beans  without pre-soaking adds only an extra 15 minutes of cooking?  The flavour and texture of cooked black beans is much better without pre-soaking.

However, pre-soaking beans and discarding the soaking liquid can help with the digestibility of beans as it removes some of the oligosaccharides, which can cause gastrointestinal discomfort for some people. So, if you do want to pre-soak your beans discard the soaking liquid before you begin this recipe.  

Since this is my husband’s family recipe, I’ve followed their lead and cooked the beans from the dried state without pre-soaking of any kind. 

3. Combine the chopped onion, whole garlic, water, salt and beans in a large pot. Bring to a boil and simmer until tender but not mushy (about 1 ½ hours).

Black beans are quite forgiving and don’t get mushy easily, so the cooking time is fairly flexible. 

4. Remove the garlic cloves from the soup, reserving one clove. Puree half of the beans with the one clove of reserved garlic in a blender (or use an immersion blender in the pot) and return to the pot.

5. Add more water to the pot if needed to reach desired consistency of soup, stir and reheat until warm.

6. Top each bowl with swirl of  crema or sour cream, the chopped cilantro, a sprinkle of dried cheese, preferably Queso de Zacapa, a strong-flavoured, salty, aged dry cheese from that’s made in the lowlands of Guatemala. Good substitutes include Mexican cotija cheese, Greek feta or even parmesan cheese. 

7. Serve with a wedge of fresh lime, slices of fresh avocado and fresh tortillas de maize. Or, try this recipe for Healthy Air Fryer Plantain Chips. 

Tips and Variations: 

• Don’t be tempted to cut corners and use canned beans. The consistency and flavour of canned black beans is totally different and they contain more sodium.  
• One of the most popular variations of traditional Guatemalan Black Bean soup is the addition of chicharron – crispy fried pork rinds – into each bowl of soup prior to serving. This adds a burst of salty, smoky flavour that’s really delicious. 
• For hearty version of black bean soup that’s vegetarian my husband likes to whisk a large egg and pour it slowly into the pot of simmering soup. He swirls it around so it cooks in ribbons rather like a Guatemalan version of egg drop soup. 
• If you don’t like cilantro (due to genetic reasons cilantro tastes like soap for some unlucky people), then you can substitute an equal amount of thinly sliced green onion.   
• Guatemalan Queso de Zacapa  is a strong-flavoured, salty, aged dry cow’s milk cheese. It’s not very easy to find outside Guatemala so you can substitute Mexican cotija cheese, Greek feta or even parmesan cheese. 
• Mix up the garnishes by adding chopped red onion, slivers of thinly-sliced radishes, shredded cabbage, diced jalapeño or fried corn chips as delicious options for a DIY soup bar. Toppings can be set at the table for people to pick and put on their soup as they wish.
• You can also serve this soup with a hot sauce for extra kick. I love Marie Sharp’s Hot Sauce . It’s produced in Belize but is also popular in the Peten region of Guatemala. 
• For the ultimate in make-ahead convenience, allow the soup to cool before adding the toppings. Then, freeze it in a freezer-proof container or freezer bag. Just thaw and reheat in a saucepan to enjoy with your choice of fresh toppings.    
  
  

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  4.93 from 13 votes

  Guatemalan Black Bean Soup

  This Guatemalan black bean soup is creamy, packed with flavour, and hearty enough for a meal. A mix of toppings make it extra fun and tasty!

  Prep Time5 mins

  Cook Time1 hr 30 mins

  Course: Soup

  Cuisine: Guatemalan

  Servings: 6

  Calories: 336kcal

  Author: Michele Peterson

  Cost: $8

  Equipment

  • ▢
    soup pot
  • ▢
    blender

  Ingredients

  • ▢ 1 pound dried turtle beans
  • ▢ 10 cups water
  • ▢ 4 cloves garlic
  • ▢ 1 onion medium

  Toppings

  • ▢ 6 tablespoon sour cream or Mexican crema
  • ▢ 6 tablespoon cilantro finely chopped
  • ▢ 6 tablespoon Queso de Zacapa or Mexican cotija or feta crumbled

  Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

  Instructions

  • Rinse the beans well. You don’t need to soak them overnight.
  • Simmer the beans with the garlic, onions and salt in water until tender but not mushy (about 1 ½ hours)
  • Remove the garlic cloves from the soup, reserving one clove. Puree half of the beans with the one clove of reserved garlic in a blender (or use an immersion blender) and add back into the pot.
  •  Add more water if needed to reach desired consistency of soup.
  • Reheat until warm
  • Top each bowl with swirl of crema, the chopped cilantro and sprinkle of cotija (or feta) cheese.
  • Serve with a wedge of fresh lime and slices of avocado.  

  Notes

  • Don’t be tempted to cut corners and use canned beans, the consistency and flavour of canned black beans are totally different and they contain more sodium.  
  • One of the most popular variations of traditional Guatemalan Black Bean soup is the addition of chicharron - crispy fried pork rinds - into each bowl of soup prior to serving. This adds a burst of salty, smoky flavour that's really delicious. 
  • For hearty version that's vegetarian my husband likes to whisk a large egg and pour it slowly into the pot of simmering soup. He swirls it around so it cooks in ribbons rather like a Guatemalan version of egg drop soup. 
  • If you don't like cilantro (due to genetic reasons cilantro tastes like soap for some people), then you can substitute an equal amount of thinly sliced green onion.   
  • Good substitutes for Guatemalan Queso de Zacapa which is a strong-flavoured, salty, aged dry cheese include Mexican cotija cheese, Greek feta or even parmesan cheese. 
  • Mix up the topping by adding chopped red onion, slivers of thinly-sliced radishes and corn chips as options. 

  Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed to be accurate. It is created by online calculators and although we attempt to provide accurate nutritional information, the figures are only estimates.

   

  Nutrition

  Serving: 6g | Calories: 336kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 224mg | Potassium: 1183mg | Fiber: 12g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 186IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 210mg | Iron: 4mg

  Tried this recipe?Mention @ATasteForTravel or tag #ATasteForTravel!

You Might Also Like These Popular Guatemalan Recipes: 

• • Tapado Guatemalan Seafood Soup with Coconut Milk  
  • Sopa de Albondigas – Healthy Meatball Soup 
  • Mango and Black Bean Salsa 
  • Easy Guatemalan Guacamole 
  • Chirmol – a Guatemalan charred tomato hot sauce.

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Michele Peterson

Dividing her time between Canada, Guatemala and Mexico (or the nearest tropical beach), Michele Peterson is the founder of A Taste for Travel. Her award-winning travel and food writing has appeared in Lonely Planet’s cookbook Mexico: From the Source, National Geographic Traveler, Fodor’s and 100+ other publications.

Read more about Michele Peterson.