Soups & stews
Sweet Potato and Black Bean Pot
Cubes of sweet potato cook in a paprika broth with canned beans so the pot comes together on a single burner.
Allergens: No gluten, dairy, or nut is called for. Cumin and paprika are ground spices; buy them from a mill you trust if you avoid cross-contact.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch cubes (about 4 cups)
- 1 can (15 ounces) diced tomatoes
- 2 cans (15 ounces each) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 cups water
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 lime, cut into wedges
- 1/4 cup chopped cilantro, optional
Method
- Warm the oil in a heavy pot over medium heat. Cook the onion with a pinch of salt until translucent, about 6 minutes. Stir in the garlic, paprika, and cumin for 30 seconds.
- Add the sweet potato cubes and stir so they pick up the spices. Pour in the tomatoes with their juice, the beans, water, and the teaspoon of salt.
- Bring the pot to a boil, then lower to a steady simmer. Cook uncovered for 25 minutes, stirring now and then, until the potato is tender and the broth has thickened slightly.
- Taste and add salt if the beans still taste flat. If the pot looks thicker than a stew, add another splash of water.
- Ladle into bowls. Serve lime wedges at the table and cilantro if you like it. The lime should be squeezed on each bowl, not boiled in the pot, so it stays bright.
Storage
The pot improves overnight. Refrigerate up to four days or freeze for two months. Reheat on the stove and loosen with water if the beans have absorbed the broth.
Kitchen notes
Canned beans are already cooked, so they only need to heat through and take on the paprika. Do not boil them hard for a long time or the skins split and the pot turns pasty. The potato is what sets the clock.
A spoon of plain yogurt on top is pleasant if you eat dairy, but the recipe stands without it. Tortilla chips on the side make it feel like a full supper without another pot.
Kitchen notes, not medical advice. These pages describe how to cook food. They do not diagnose, treat, or promise any health result. If you have an allergy or need a specific eating pattern, follow the advice of a qualified professional.