Delicious Brazilian Orange & Black Bean Soup Recipe
Imagine savoring a warm, hearty bowl of soup on a chilly evening or for a cozy lunch break. The aromas wafting through your kitchen overwhelm your senses as you anticipate the deliciousness that lies ahead. Brazilian Orange & Black Bean Soup is the perfect meal to warm up your soul.
As a chef that specializes in both Brazilian and American cuisine, I have come across many delicious variations of bean soups across different regions of Brazil. However, one that has always stood out to me is the Brazilian Orange & Black Bean Soup recipe.
The contrast of flavors between the sweetness of orange juice and the earthy flavor of black beans make for an incredibly satisfying experience that your taste buds will not soon forget. Top it off with some sour cream, cilantro, and salsa, and you are in for a treat.
Not only is this soup recipe simple to put together with basic pantry staples, but it also uses healthy ingredients that are guaranteed to nourish your body.
Join me in exploring this flavorful Brazilian Orange & Black Bean Soup recipe that will elevate your comfort food game to a whole new level.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Are you someone who appreciates a warm, comforting bowl of soup on a cold day? Or maybe you’re looking to switch up your regular dinner routine with something unique and exciting? Either way, this Brazilian Orange & Black Bean Soup recipe is sure to satisfy.
What makes this soup so special? For starters, it’s packed with protein-rich black beans that will leave you feeling full and satisfied. But it’s the addition of fresh orange juice that truly sets this recipe apart, giving the soup a tangy, citrusy kick that will tantalize your taste buds.
And let’s not forget about the other bold flavors and aromas in this dish: cumin, cilantro, garlic, and more. These ingredients all work together to create a truly authentic Brazilian taste experience.
But what I love most about this recipe is its versatility. You can easily make substitutions or variations based on your personal preferences or dietary restrictions. And it’s perfect for both meat-eaters and vegans alike.
So whether you’re looking for a hearty meal to warm you up on a chilly night or simply want to try something new and delicious, I highly recommend giving this Brazilian Orange & Black Bean Soup recipe a try.
Ingredient List
Let’s dive into the ingredients for this Brazilian Orange & Black Bean Soup Recipe. These are the items that will create the depth of flavor and richness for which Brazilian cuisine is known worldwide. The bold ingredient below will help you to capture the essence of Brazil in your own kitchen.
Primary Ingredients
- 2 cups black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 ½ cup orange juice (freshly squeezed) from 4 medium sized oranges
- 10 cloves garlic, divided and crushed
- 3 cups onion, chopped (3 onions)
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Cumin, salt and black pepper – to taste
Recipe Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons cumin
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon cayenne
- 2 tablespoons cilantro, finely chopped
- 1 can diced tomatoes (14.5 oz)
- 1 lime zest and juice
- 2 bay leaves
With these ingredients, you can create a fantastic soup that is smoky, rich, hearty and full of flavors. Most of these items are easy to find in a grocery store, even though some might not be on your regular shopping list. So let’s review which items are essential to creating a Brazilian-style soup!
The Recipe How-To
Now that you have gathered all the ingredients, it’s time to make the Brazilian orange and black bean soup! Follow these steps carefully, and I promise you’ll end up with a hearty and flavorful soup that will warm your soul.
Step 1: Prep your vegetables
Start by preparing your onion, bell pepper, carrot, and garlic cloves. Chop the onion into small pieces, dice the bell pepper, and cut the carrot into small cubes. Crush the garlic cloves with a knife or use a garlic press.
Step 2: Sauté the vegetables
In a large pot, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until translucent. Add the diced bell pepper, cubed carrot, and crushed garlic to the pot, and stir well. Let them cook for about 5 minutes until tender.
Step 3: Add the beans
To the same pot, add 2 cups of black beans (if using canned beans, make sure to rinse them first). Stir well to combine with the other ingredients.
Step 4: Season
To the pot with the bean mixture, add 1 tablespoon of cumin, 2 teaspoons of salt, 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne, and a pinch of black pepper. Stir well to combine.
Step 5: Add liquids and final touches
Pour in 1 cup of freshly squeezed orange juice and 2 cups of water. Add one or two bay leaves for extra flavor. Bring everything to a boil.
Once boiled, reduce heat and let simmer on low for at least an hour. Taste for seasoning and adjust if necessary.
Step 6: Blend or not blend
If you prefer a smooth consistency soup, use an immersion blender directly into the pot blending only half of the mixture.Remove the bay leaves before doing so. If you like your soup chunky, skip this step.
Step 7: Serve and enjoy
Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with salsa, sour cream, chopped cilantro, and diced tomatoes. You can also serve it over cooked pasta or pair it with warm bread for a complete meal.
Now sit back, enjoy a hearty bowl of Brazilian orange and black bean soup, and let its warmth comfort you from within.
Substitutions and Variations
When it comes to making the perfect Brazilian Orange & Black Bean Soup, there are plenty of substitutions and variations that you can explore based on your taste preferences or dietary needs. Below are some of my favorite alternatives for recipe ingredients:
– Instead of black beans, you can use kidney beans or white beans for a creamier texture or chickpeas for added protein.
– If you’re not a fan of cilantro, you can substitute it with parsley or basil for a milder flavor.
– For a vegan version of this soup, skip the sour cream and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth in the recipe. You can also substitute olive oil for butter for a dairy-free meal.
– If you prefer a spicier kick, feel free to add more cayenne pepper or even some diced jalapenos to the mix.
– Some other ingredients you could use to give your soup a twist include diced sweet potatoes or butternut squash for added sweetness and vitamin C, spinach leaves or kale for extra nutrition, bacon or sausage if you’d like to give it an extra savory note.
You can adjust the amount of spices, vegetables, and legumes as per your liking to come up with your own unique take on this delicious soup. Don’t hesitate to try these substitutions and see what works best for your taste buds!
Serving and Pairing
Now that your Brazilian Orange & Black Bean Soup is ready, let’s talk about how to serve and what to pair it with. This soup is hearty and filling, so it makes for a perfect main course or a starter. Serve it warm with some crusty bread, tortilla chips, or over steamed rice to make a complete meal.
To take the flavor profile up a notch, you can create toppings bar with fresh cilantro, diced tomatoes, chopped onions, sour cream, and some homemade salsa. Sprinkle some cayenne or black pepper on top to add a bit of spiciness.
If you’re looking for a beverage pairing, I would recommend serving this soup with some fresh orange juice or cold beer. The citrusy notes in the orange juice complement the soup’s flavors while the beer gives it an extra kick.
This soup also pairs well with salad greens or roasted vegetables like squash, sweet potatoes, or zucchini. Adding these vegetables lends an extra layer of texture and nutrients to the soup’s nutritional profile.
Overall, this Brazilian Orange & Black Bean Soup Recipe is an excellent way to incorporate some exciting flavors into your meal time. With its unique blend of ingredients and mix of spices, it’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser at any gathering or dinner party. So go ahead and give it a try – you won’t be disappointed!
Make-Ahead, Storing and Reheating
One of the best things about Brazilian Orange & Black Bean Soup Recipe is that it can be made ahead of time and reheated easily. This recipe is perfect for meal planning and batch cooking because it keeps well in the fridge for up to four days, making for easy weeknight dinners or packed lunches.
To store this soup, make sure to let it cool completely before transferring it to airtight containers or ziplock bags. If you’re storing it in the fridge, it’s best to use shallow containers to speed up the cooling process and prevent any bacterial growth. Alternatively, you can also freeze this soup for up to three months. When reheating, simply defrost it overnight in the fridge or using the defrost function in your microwave.
If you find that your soup has become too thick after storage, simply add a splash of water or vegetable broth when reheating, and stir until the desired consistency is reached. You may also want to adjust the seasoning at this point – adding a little salt or lime juice can help brighten up any leftover soup that has lost some of its pizzazz.
As with most soups, Brazilian Orange & Black Bean Soup Recipe can be as versatile as you like in terms of customisation. Why not try adding some fresh herbs such as cilantro or parsley on top of each serving for an extra kick of flavour? Salsas, diced tomatoes and sour cream are also great toppings that complement the bright flavours of this dish. No matter how you serve it, this is an easy and hearty meal that will leave you feeling satisfied and your taste buds happy!
Tips for Perfect Results
Here are a few tips that will help you make a perfect Brazilian Orange & Black Bean Soup:
1. Sauté the onion and garlic until they’re golden brown.
Before adding the black beans, sauté the chopped onions and garlic in the olive oil until they turn golden brown. This step will begin to develop a deep and rich flavor in your soup.
2. Use fresh ingredients.
Fresh ingredients, especially garlic and onion, can make all the difference in the world. They’re fragrant, nutrient-dense and will greatly improve the overall taste of your dish.
3. Follow cooking time guidelines.
Cooking time is essential when it comes to preparing this soup recipe. Make sure that you follow the instructions carefully to achieve that perfect balance between firmness and tenderness in your beans.
4. Experiment with different spices.
While this recipe calls for cumin, salt, and black pepper, there’s no shortage of other spices you could consider trying out such as bay leaves or crushed red pepper flakes! Spice things up to please your palate.
5. Store leftover soup separately from toppings.
If you have leftovers, make sure to store them separately from any toppings like cilantro or sour cream. Otherwise, they might end up getting soggy or clumpy when reheated on top of the soup.
6. Use a blender according to your preference.
For a smoother texture add all ingredients in a blender while for a rustic texture, blend part of the soup then return it back to the pot and stir gently.
By following these tips for perfect results, you’ll be able to create an unforgettable Brazilian Orange & Black Bean Soup that everyone will love!
Bottom Line
In conclusion, this Brazilian Orange & Black Bean Soup recipe is a must-try for anyone who loves bold and flavorful soups. The combination of the orange juice and black beans creates a unique and delicious taste that you won’t find in any other soup recipe. Plus, with its high nutritional content thanks to the addition of wholesome ingredients like carrots, bell pepper, onions, and garlic, you can feel good about indulging in a bowl of this soup.
And with so many ways to customize this recipe to your liking – whether you add some heat with cayenne or salsa for an extra kick or top it off with some sour cream and cilantro for added creaminess and freshness – the possibilities are truly endless.
So go ahead and give this Brazilian Orange & Black Bean Soup a try. Whether you’re cooking it up for yourself or to impress guests at your next dinner party, it’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser. And who knows? You might just discover your new go-to soup recipe!
Brazilian Orange & Black Bean Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups black beans
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cups onions, chopped (about 1.5 large onions)
- 10 medium garlic cloves, crushed
- 2 tablespoons cumin
- 2 -2 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 medium carrot, diced
- 1 medium bell pepper, diced
- 1 1/2 cups orange juice
- black pepper
- cayenne
- 2 diced tomatoes (optional)
- sour cream (optional)
- cilantro (optional)
- salsa (optional)
Instructions
- Soak beans in plent of water for at least 4 hours (preferably overnight).
- Place the soaked beans in a kettle or dutch oven with 4 cups water. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer until tender (about 1.25 hours).
- Heat olive oil in a medium sized skillet. Add chopped onion, 5 crushed cloves garlic, cumin, salt, and carrot.
- Saute over medium heat until the carrot is just tender. Add the rest of the crushed garlic and diced bell pepper. Saute until everything is very tender (10-15 mins). Add the sauteed mixture to the beans, scraping out every last morsel.
- Stir in orange juice, black pepper and cayenne to taste, and diced tomatoes (optional).
- Puree all or some of the soup in a blender and return to kettle. Simmer over very low heat 10-15 mins more. Serve topped with an artful arrangement of sour cream, cilantro and salsa.
Add Your Own Notes
Nutrition
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Dora
Dora is a chef well-versed in Brazilian and American cuisine. After a hard day's work in the kitchen of her restaurant, she finds the time to jot down recipes for her food blog. Her recipes are sure to delight foodies everywhere, as she strives to make each one unique and enjoyable to read.