Cuban · soup
Black Bean Soup (Sopa de Frijoles Negros)
Black Bean Soup (Sopa de Frijoles Negros) reads allium 4.8, sweetness 4.5 and sourness 4.4 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Cuban soup, about 8 hr 22 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.
The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10
- Umami & Savory — 4.0 / 10
- Sweet & Fruity — 4.7 / 10
- Sour & Bright — 4.4 / 10
- Bitter & Earthy — 3.4 / 10
- Rich & Fat — 4.5 / 10
- Aromatic & Spice — 5.2 / 10
The measured notes (of 18)
Allium 4.8 · Sweetness 4.5 · Sourness 4.4 · Richness 4.1 · Umami 3.6 · Earthy 3.1 · Salinity 2.8 · Warm Spice 2.1 · Bitterness 1.6 · Herbaceous 1.5 · Funk & Ferment 1.5 · Nutty 1.4 · Floral 0.9 · Heat 0.8 · Fruity 0.6
What's in it (14)
- 1 lb dried black beans
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 bay leaf
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- salt to taste
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1/2 cup diced white onion and 2 tbsp olive oil for garnish
- 3 cups cooked white rice
Time & effort: about 8 hr 22 min (22 min active) · effort: involved
Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 257 kcal, 9.9 g protein, 1 g fat, 52.8 g carbs
Dietary: Vegan — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.
How it's cooked (4 steps)
- Soak beans overnight, drain, then simmer with bay leaf until just tender, about 1.5 hours.
- Prepare a sofrito by frying onion, bell pepper, and garlic until soft, add cumin and oregano, and stir into the beans.
- Simmer together 30 more minutes until the broth is thick and flavorful; season with vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper.
- Serve over white rice drizzled with raw onion and olive oil.
Dishes with a similar flavor shape
- Sloppy Joes on Toasted Buns — American
- Butternut Squash Soup with Brown Butter — American
- Swedish Hash (Pytt i Panna) — Scandinavian
- Borscht (Борщ) — Russian
- Sweet Potato and Black Bean Enchiladas — Mexican
Keep reading: what allium, sweetness, sourness mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.
See how this dish fits your palate — take the short taste test →
Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.