Caribbean Bean Soup with Collard Greens

This hearty Caribbean inspired soup is just what you need on cold winter days! Made with red and black beans and collard greens, simmered in a coconut milk broth with lime juice and Jamaican spices, this meal-worthy soup is sure to warm you up.

As much as I love winter and I love snow, this year I’ve kind of had it with cold and flu season. I think I hit a personal record of being hit with three nasty bugs since fall, each of which wiped me pretty bad for the greater part of two weeks. And the last of my two illnesses were only spaced apart by about one week. UGH.

I’m still getting my energy back and getting over a cough from my last bout of sickness. It’s nice to be starting to feel better, but man, it’s really hard to get anything done when you’re sick!

So I’ve been a little behind on recipe development, partially because I’ve been so worn out, and partially because food just hasn’t been all that appealing to me lately.

This soup is kind of exactly what I need for times like this! For one thing, it’s easy. Perfect for low energy days. Also, it’s packed with beans and collards and nutritions stuff to make me feel better. Also, it’s got a nice little kick to clear the sinuses. And finally, the flavors make it perfect for daydreaming that I’m on a Caribbean beach somewhere, far away from the cold, and without a sniffle in sight!

How to Make Caribbean Bean Soup

You’ll start by cooking up some onion in a little bit of oil. Once the onion begins to soften up, add some spices, garlic, ginger, and a hot pepper. Caribbean recipes usually include a Scotch bonnet pepper, but I can never find these, so I substitute with a habanero.

Next, add some broth, coconut milk, tomatoes, and beans. Let everything simmer for bit, to allow the beans to soften up.

If you’d like your soup to be extra thick, you can blend up a small amount using an immersion blender (or a regular blender, if that’s how you roll). Totally optional, but really nice!

Finally, add the collards and let them simmer until they’re fully wilted.

Season the soup with salt, some lime juice, and brown sugar. Ladle into bowls and enjoy!

FAQ & Tips for Making Simply Awesome Caribbean Bean Soup

• Is this soup super spicy? It should be relatively mild if you stick with one or two peppers. If you’re concerned about the heat level, just omit the peppers and substitute cayenne pepper to taste, which you can add along with the lime juice when the soup is done cooking.
• Be sure to wear gloves when handling hot peppers!
• Can I use coconut milk from a carton? You can, but the soup will probably end up lacking a bit in flavor and richness — most coconut milk sold in cartons is actually watered down or a blend of coconut milk and other non-dairy milks.
• Is this soup gluten-free? It is!
• Feel free to switch up the beans and greens. If all you have on hand is black or red beans, use them! If you’ve got a can of pinto beans or black-eyed peas, you can use them too! Kale or chard would work well as alternatives to the collards, if you prefer.

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5 from 4 votes

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Caribbean Bean Soup with Collard Greens

This hearty Caribbean inspired soup is just what you need on cold winter days! Made with red and black beans and collard greens, simmered in a coconut milk broth with lime juice and Jamaican spices, this meal-worthy soup is sure to warm you up.

Course Soup

Cuisine Caribbean

Keyword bean soup, collard green recipes, creamy vegan soup

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes

Total Time 45 minutes

Servings 4

Calories 330 kcal

Author Alissa

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger
• 1-2 habanero or Scotch bonnet peppers, minced
• 1 teaspoon allspice
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 cups vegetable broth
• 1 (14 ounce) can light coconut milk
• 1 (14 ounce) can fire roasted tomatoes
• 2 (14 ounce) cans red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 (14 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 1/2 tablespoons organic brown sugar
• 1 medium bunch of collard greens (about 1 pound), stems removed and torn into 1-2 inch pieces
• Salt, to taste

Instructions

1. Melt the coconut oil in a large pot over medium heat.

2. Give the oil a minute or two to heat up, then add the onion. Cook the onion for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it becomes soft and translucent.

3. Add the garlic, ginger, and habanero or Scotch bonnet pepper, continue to cook for about 1 minute, until very fragrant.

4. Stir in the allspice, thyme, cinnamon and black pepper, and cook for a few seconds, then stir in the broth, coconut milk, tomatoes, red beans, and black beans.

5. Raise the heat and bring everything to a boil. 

6. Lower the heat and allow it to simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes, until the beans soften up a bit.

7. At this point you can optionally blend a small amount of the soup with an immersion blender or a conventional blender, if you'd like it to be thicker.

8. Stir in the collard greens. You may need to add them a bit at a time, letting each addition wilt a bit before adding more.

9. Allow the soup to continue simmering for about 20 minutes, until the greens are soft and wilted.

10. Remove the pot from heat and stir in the lime juice and brown sugar. Season with salt to taste.

11. Ladle into bowls and serve.

Recipe Notes

Be sure to wear gloves when handling hot peppers. It's up to you whether or not to include the seeds, just be aware that they will add a substantial amount of heat.

Nutrition Facts

Caribbean Bean Soup with Collard Greens

Amount Per Serving (1.5 cups)

Calories 330 Calories from Fat 62

% Daily Value*

Fat 6.9g11%

Saturated Fat 4.2g21%

Sodium 674mg28%

Potassium 907mg26%

Carbohydrates 63.2g21%

Fiber 16.7g67%

Sugar 6.7g7%

Protein 18.5g37%

Calcium 120mg12%

Iron 5.2mg29%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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