Caldo de Frijol con Mole (Pot Bean Soup with a Swirl of Mole)
A thick, comforting pot bean soup with a spoonful of mole stirred through and sharp pickled onion to finish.
Made with Pickled red onions (cebollas encurtidas) and Mole poblano and Frijoles de la olla (pot beans). Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time35 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £3.09 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Heat the olive oil in a large pan over a medium heat. Cook the onion for 6 minutes until soft, then add the garlic for 1 minute.
7 min - 2
Add the pot beans (see the base recipe) with their broth and the vegetable stock. Bring to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes.
15 min - 3
Stir in half the mole poblano (see the base recipe). Blend about two thirds of the soup until smooth, then stir it back so the soup is thick but still has whole beans.
- 4
Taste and add salt. Reheat until steaming hot.
- 5
Ladle into bowls. Swirl the remaining mole on top and finish with pickled red onions (see the base recipe), avocado and coriander.
Tips
- Blend only part of the soup. The whole beans give texture.
- Add the mole in two stages, some stirred in for flavour and some swirled for the look.
- If the soup is too thick, loosen it with hot water 100 ml at a time.
Storing and freezing
Cool within 2 hours and keep in the fridge for up to 4 days. Freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat until steaming hot all the way through.
Questions
Can I use tinned beans?
Yes. Use two 400 g tins of black or pinto beans, drained, and add 200 ml extra stock. Rinse them first. The flavour is less deep than home cooked beans but still good.
Is it vegan?
Yes, as written. The pot beans, mole and pickled onions in the base recipes are vegan. Use a vegan stock and check the label.
More made with pickled red onions (cebollas encurtidas)
Tacos de Carnitas con Cebolla Encurtida (Carnitas Tacos)
DFEFNFCeviche de Salmón y Mango (Salmon and Mango Ceviche)
GFDFEFTacos de Carnitas con Cebolla Encurtida (Crisp Pork Tacos)
DFEFNFMassaman Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Chickpeas and Pickled Onions
DFEFNFSee every dish made with pickled red onions (cebollas encurtidas)
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.