Spicy Black Bean Soup In a Jar
This soup mix is so easy to put together, and the resulting soup is SO tasty and SO easy to make! Unlike a lot of soup mixes in a jar, this one comes with everything you need to make the soup. All you add is water (plus any toppings you want). It seems hard to believe that something so simple could be so delicious, but it is packed with flavor! We love this soup (especially when served up with some cornbread).
The sentiment of tray after tray of cookies is nice, but right around December 17th each year, I start to crave veggies and water and healthier options-like a hearty, fiber-packed black bean soup. It's a great option for everyone on your list, because you can easily customize it to be vegan and gluten-free!
Let me show you how easy this soup in a jar is to put together. First up, gather your supplies.
Supplies
For each jar (which serves six people), you'll need:
- 1 wide mouth quart jar with lid (a canning jar, flip-top jar, or even a clean jar from mayo or spaghetti sauce would work)
- 3 cups dried black beans (about 1 ½ pounds)
- 1 cup dried navy or great northern beans (about ½ pound)
- 12" x 12" piece of parchment paper
- Rubber band
- 1 tablespoon dried onion flakes (like these)
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons cumin
- ¼-1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (depending on how spicy you'd like it)
- 1 teaspoon celery seed
- 2 bay leaves
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 4 chicken or veggie boullion cubes (this vegan brand is great)
- Cardstock and a printer, for the tag (download using the form below)
- Twine
- Short wooden spoon, optional (like these)
Step One: Layer the Beans
Fill your clean jar with ¾ cup black beans, followed by ⅓ cup white beans, and then repeat, ending with the last ¾ cup of black beans.
Wholefully Protip
Honestly, you could just use 100% black beans, and the recipe would be just as awesome. The only reason I use white beans is so the jar looks all pretty with the layers!
Step Two: Make the Spice Packet
Place all the spices in the middle of the piece of parchment paper. Then, roll up the sides to make a little packet. Secure the packet closed with a rubber band. You can also use a small zip-top plastic bag for this, if you prefer.
Step 3: Stuff the Jar
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Stuff the closed packet into the top of the jar. You might have to use a little elbow grease to get it in there, but it'll go. Then close up your jar.
Step Four: Add Tag and Spoon
📥 Download the Free Labels
I've made you some free tags for these soup jars that you can print off at home. Just fill out the form below to get them delivered right to your inbox.
I created a PDF with the tags that you can download for free using the form above. printed mine out on heavy kraft paper card stock. Cut out the label, use a hole punch to punch where the "x" is, and then tie it onto the jar with twine or ribbon.
If you'd like to make your own tags, here are the directions. Feel free to copy and paste into your own design:
In a large stock pot, combine the beans, spice packet contents, and 12 cups of water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 1½-2 hours, stirring occasionally, until the beans are tender and the soup is thick. You might need to add more water as the beans cook. Adjust seasonings if necessary. Serve topped with sour cream and diced avocado. Great with tortilla chips or cornbread on the side.
I think adding the wooden spoon to the side of the jar is a nice touch, so if you want to do the same, just tie the spoon on to the side with the twine.
And that's it! Your gift jars are complete. You could easily pump out a bunch of these, assembly line style, in less than an hour.
Make sure to come back tomorrow, when Handmade Holiday week continues. Tomorrow I'm back with another food gift that is perfect for all the healthy foodies on your list! See you then.
📖 Recipe
Spicy Black Bean Soup In a Jar
Equipment
- 1 wide-mouth quart jar with lid a canning jar, flip-top jar, or even a clean jar from mayo or spaghetti sauce would work
- 12"x12" piece parchment paper
- Rubber band
- Cardstock and a printer
- Twine optional (like these)
Ingredients
For the Soup:
- 3 cups dried black beans about 1 ½ pounds
- 1 cup dried navy or great northern beans about ½ pound
- 1 tablespoon dried onion flakes like these
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons cumin
- ¼-½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes depending on how spicy you'd like it
- 1 teaspoon celery seed
- 2 bay leaves
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 4 chicken or veggie bouillon cubes this vegan brand is great
Instructions
- Fill your clean jar with ¾ cup black beans, followed by ⅓ cup white beans, and then repeat, ending with the last ¾ cup of black beans.
- Place all the spices in the middle of the piece of parchment paper. Then, roll up the sides to make a little packet. Secure the packet closed with a rubber band. You can also use a small zip-top plastic bag for this, if you prefer.
- Stuff the closed packet into the top of the jar. You might have to use a little elbow grease to get it in there, but it'll go. Then close up your jar.
- Print out the tags (which you can download for free in the post) on heavy kraft paper or card stock. Cut out the label, use a hole punch to punch where the "x" is, and then tie it onto the jar with twine or ribbon.
- If adding the wooden spoon to your gift, tie it on to the side with the twine.
- That's it-your gift jar is complete!
Notes
- Each jar makes enough soup to serve six people.
- To make the soup: In a large stock pot, combine the beans, spice packet contents, and 12 cups of water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 1½-2 hours, stirring occasionally, until the beans are tender and the soup is thick. You might need to add more water as the beans cook. Adjust seasonings if necessary. Serve topped with sour cream and diced avocado. Great with tortilla chips or cornbread on the side.
These look AMAZING!! My mouth is watering.. Must try these. Thanks for sharing!
Looks pretty! It is look simple recipe.Thank for share !
Love this soup, chicken and beef are two of my favorate things, so i would love this recipe, it's exactly what i will try tonight. Thank for sharing
Why can't spices just be added to jar since cooking all at once?
If you prefer, they sure can! Some folks like to sort/rinse beans before cooking.
yum yum, this recipe sounds awesome. Thanks for sharing. Simon
Thanks for amazing recipe. It was very east to made.
I could only find large bullion cubes (2 cups of water per cube) -- would I still need 4, or just 2?
How many people should one jar feed? one? Two?
I want to say that this post is awesome, nice written.
It is look simple recipe. I want to try this now!
Thank for sharing
It is look simple recipe, but I have never try before.
Will try on this weekend. Thank for share !
Looks easy and pretty! I want to try this now! It can be a perfect gift for my friend! Thank you!
Awesome, this handmade bean jar looks so vintage, I can't wait to make my own one and send to my girl friend birthday. Thank you so much for this great idea!
Hello!
That's a lovely idea to put a salted recipe in a jar for a change!
I used one of your pictures on my blog, please tell me if you want me to remove it!
Have a good day,
Lucile
Usually I soak my beans overnight before making soup. Would the directions change if the beans were soaked?
I wouldn't recommend pre-soaking, it's the long/slow cooking in all the spices that adds so much flavor to the soup!
@Cassie: pre soaking is necessary for all nuts, seeds and beans/grains to remove some or all of the phytic acid that makes it hard to digest and also is considered an anti-nutrient as it effects the nutrients that are consumed (makes them not usable for the body)
Please research any search engine for soaking beans, nuts seeds and grains.
You have to either soak beans overnight OR boil them for at least 5-6 min to breakdown tough skins. Otherwise you end up with flavorful HARD beans. The slow cook process flavors them but if beans are not pre softened they remain hard No matter how many hours you cook them. I am at high altitude in west so need more minutes than 1 boiling but my mom on east coast always soaks her beans overnight. Good bean reference Ranchogordo.com they grow their own beans and pub bean cookbook. We love their beans! Many heirloom varieties for even prettier colors and flavors in soups.
I'm 70 years old and I never soak beans, unless I want them in a hurry! It's the long slow cooking that makes them sooooooo good!
This would be great for 2 of my coworkers. If this was assembled & cooked in a slowcooker, how long do you think it would take?
I would say 6-8 hours on high and 4-6 on low, but I haven't tested it, so you might want to keep an eye on it the first time you try it out in the slow cooker. 🙂
Bounced over from Bless This Mess. Think I will bounce more often! This is a great idea! I will send a jar full to my daughter who lives way too many states away. When she wishes she had Mommy to cook something Mommyish for her....presto!
Wow! What a gift idea!
I made this soup before giving it out as gifts. In my opinion, it was very bland. I followed the recipe exactly. Yet it was blah. Zero spice. Very little flavor. I even attempted to reduce it down hoping to concentrate flavors. And it made a VERY large batch of soup. Really had high hopes.
Super cute!
what a lovely holiday or hostess gift idea! such a nice break from all the sweets