In particular, black beans are high in selenium. Many of these micronutrients also act as potent antioxidants. Black beans are high in calcium, magnesium and copper, all of which not only help keep strong healthy bones but to help to naturally lower high blood pressure.

They contain micronutrients that have many health benefits from helping to maintain a healthy heart and blood pressure to potentially being able to fight against cancer. The black beans themselves are also whole and blended in stock to showcase a host of ways for them to be consumed, all in one soup.īlack beans are also very nutritious. This is a thinner soup permeated with a mixture of crispy fresh and cooked peppers and onions that give not only a contrasting flavour but a contrasting texture as well. What’s more, the appearance of the soup seems to feel more appealing rather than the traditional blackish-grey thick soup so often seen. This got us thinking, why don’t we mix the hearty thick soup of the Mexican style with the freshness of the gazpacho style soup these ingredients works ever so well in, whilst at the same time highlighting the great individual flavour of the black beans so well captured in Chinese cooking. The zing of the fresh garlic with the sweetness and spiciness of the peppers and onions are just amazing. However, when left raw or cooked very gently, they are very refreshing and clean tasting, such as when they are prepared in a summer green gazpacho. Cooked slowly, garlic, onions and peppers create a wonderful depth of flavour to give a soup such as this black bean soup a very hearty feel.

This classic Cantonese dish sees these flavours married with garlic and onions which are great ingredients by themselves. The beans also partnered with spices and green peppers make a very traditional Chinese sauce seen on Asian menus the world around. It is certainly by no means solely Mexican.

Of course, this soup and especially black beans have roots in Mexico where it is often served with spices, peppers and tortillas and avocado. This is an original Mexican black bean soup recipe that takes inspiration from the flavour of black beans and the many complimentary ingredients often partnered with it.