If you’re a fan of Mexican mole and its sweet earthiness, then you’re going to love the combo of mole and black beans. Black bean mole soup is bold – not, particularly, in heat, but certainly in spices. With its hint of chocolate, nutty undertone, and exotic spices, mole brings flair to black beans. It’s perfect as a hearty lunch or as an appetizer to Mexican meals.
As a topper, our chipotle lime crema gives a nice smoky tang that pairs well with the earthy sweetness of this soup. Ancho powder is part of the holy trinity of chilies that are typically used in mole. It’s earthy and sweet with very little spice. If you want something bolder in the spiciness department, try jumping to guajillo pepper (another holy trinity pepper). Or chipotle powder also works, and it’s a much more common find on spice racks.
See it being made:
Like this recipe? You’ll love these too:
- Easy Mole Sauce: Not particularly authentic, but a quick recipe to make that gets you close enough for many needs!
- Smoky Mole Bitters: These. homemade bitters provide a delicious rich smokiness to any drink.
- Mexican Meatball Soup: This recipe is totally a soup that eats like a meal.
Black Bean Mole Soup
Ingredients
- 3 cans black beans 15.5-ounce cans
- 3 cups vegetable broth divided
- 1 yellow onion diced
- 1 ounce bittersweet chocolate chopped
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 cup mole sauce
- 2 tablespoons corn oil
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon ancho powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- in a glass bowl, combine the mole sauce, apple cider vinegar, and 1/2 cup of the vegetable broth. Stir well until fully combined.
- In a soup pot (or high-sided pan) heat the corn oil over medium heat, then saute the yellow onion until translucent (4 to 5 minutes). Add the garlic, cumin, ancho powder, cinnamon, and 1/2 teaspoon salt to the onions and continue cooking, stirring often, for 1 minute.
- Add the mole sauce mix, black beans, and the rest of the vegetable broth to the pot and stir well. Bring the soup to a quick boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and allow it to simmer for approximately 15 minutes.
- About 5 minutes prior to the end of the simmer, add the bittersweet chocolate, stirring often to allow it to melt. Add additional salt and pepper, to taste.
- Serve with black beans whole or transfer the soup to a blender and process the soup to your desired consistency. Top with sour cream or crema (optional).