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Pinto Bean Soup – Sopa Tarasca Recipe

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4.2 from 13 reviews

This comforting Pinto Bean Soup, also known as Sopa Tarasca, is a flavorful Mexican dish featuring roasted plum tomatoes, smoky chipotle, and creamy pinto beans. It’s easy to prepare and perfect for a cozy meal with fresh garnishes like crema, cilantro, and lime to brighten each bowl.

Ingredients

Soup Base

  • 3 plum tomatoes
  • 1/2 onion
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1 small chipotle in adobo (seeds scraped out)

Beans and Broth

  • 2 cups pinto beans (cooked or canned, drained and rinsed if canned)
  • 2 cups stock (chicken or vegetable)

Seasonings

  • 1/2 teaspoon Mexican oregano (plus more to taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt (plus more to taste)
  • Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste

Garnish

  • Crema (or heavy cream, or sour cream)
  • Finely diced cilantro stems (optional)
  • Lime juice (or hot sauce)

Instructions

  1. Roast Tomatoes: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Roast 3 plum tomatoes on a baking sheet for 15-20 minutes until the skins are slightly charred and softened. This brings out a deep, smoky flavor essential to the base of the soup.
  2. Blend Soup Base: Transfer the roasted tomatoes to a blender and add 1/2 onion, 2 garlic cloves, and 1 small chipotle in adobo with seeds removed. Blend until smooth and well combined.
  3. Sauté Tomato Mixture: In a pot or deep skillet, heat a dollop of oil over medium heat. Pour in the blended tomato mixture and sauté for a few minutes to enhance the flavors and reduce rawness.
  4. Prepare Bean Puree: While the tomato mixture cooks, blend 2 cups of cooked pinto beans with 2 cups of chicken or vegetable stock until smooth. If using canned beans, rinse and drain them first to reduce sodium and improve flavor.
  5. Combine and Simmer: Add the bean puree to the sautéed tomato mixture. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon of salt, freshly cracked black pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon of Mexican oregano. Mix well and let the soup simmer gently for 5-10 minutes to meld the flavors.
  6. Final Seasoning: Taste the soup and adjust seasoning as needed, adding an extra pinch of salt or pepper if desired.
  7. Serve and Garnish: Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with crema, a squeeze of lime juice or hot sauce, finely diced cilantro stems, and freshly cracked black pepper for a fresh, tangy finish.

Notes

  • Roasting tomatoes deepens the flavor and adds a subtle smokiness to the soup.
  • Removing seeds from the chipotle reduces heat while maintaining smoky flavor.
  • If using canned pinto beans, rinsing them helps reduce excess sodium.
  • Crema can be substituted with sour cream or heavy cream depending on preference or availability.
  • You can adjust the spice level by adding more chipotle or a dash of hot sauce when serving.
  • This soup pairs well with warm tortillas or crusty bread for a complete meal.

Find it online: https://marthatasty.com/pinto-bean-soup-sopa-tarasca-recipe/