Description
Mexican-inspired vegetarian taco soup brings together hearty beans, roasted vegetables, and zesty spices in one comforting bowl. Simmered with fresh cilantro and topped with crispy tortilla strips, this quick meal satisfies hungry diners seeking bold southwestern flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 tbsps vegetable broth
- 1 15 oz black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 15 oz kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 15 oz corn, drained
- 1 14.5 oz diced tomatoes
- 1 10 oz Rotel (diced tomatoes with green chilies)
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 bell pepper, diced (any color)
- 1 medium zucchini, diced (optional)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsps taco seasoning
- 1 tsp cumin
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp salt
- Juice of 1 lime
- Shredded cheese (cheddar or Mexican blend)
- Sour cream or Greek yogurt
- Sliced avocado
- Chopped cilantro
- Crushed tortilla chips
- Sliced jalapenos
Instructions
- Sauté Base: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat, then add onions and cook until translucent, releasing their sweet aromatics.
- Layer Vegetables: Introduce minced garlic, bell peppers, and zucchini, sprinkling taco seasoning to create a robust flavor foundation.
- Combine Legumes and Grains: Integrate black beans, kidney beans, and corn into the vegetable mixture, ensuring even distribution of ingredients.
- Build Liquid Foundation: Pour in diced tomatoes, Rotel, and vegetable broth, then enhance with ground cumin, smoked paprika, chili powder, and salt.
- Simmer and Develop: Bring the mixture to a brief boil, then reduce heat and let the soup gently simmer for 20-25 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and intensify.
- Finalize and Serve: Brighten the soup with fresh lime juice, adjust seasonings to taste, and ladle into bowls topped with cilantro, avocado, or crispy tortilla strips.
Notes
- Optimize Spice Intensity: Adjust taco seasoning and chili powder based on personal heat preference, tasting gradually to prevent overwhelming spiciness.
- Prevent Vegetable Mushiness: Dice vegetables uniformly and avoid overcooking to maintain their crisp texture and nutritional integrity.
- Enhance Protein Content: Consider adding quinoa or plant-based protein crumbles for extra nutrition and more substantial meal experience.
- Control Soup Consistency: Monitor liquid levels during simmering, adding more vegetable broth if soup becomes too thick, ensuring desired texture and preventing burning.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 5 mg