Sopa de Frijol con Camarones (Bean and Prawn Soup)
A smooth, smoky bean soup simmered with tomato and chipotle, topped with seared prawns, avocado and crumbled tortilla chips.
Made with Tostadas and totopos (tortilla chips) and Refried beans (frijoles refritos). Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time35 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £3.11 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 half the oil in a large pot over a medium heat. Fry the onion for 5 minutes until soft, then add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
6 min - 2
Add the tomatoes, the chipotle and 200 ml of the stock. Simmer for 10 minutes, then blend with a hand blender until smooth.
10 min - 3
Return to the pot, add your ready made refried beans (see the base recipe) and the rest of the stock. Whisk well and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring often, until smooth, slightly thickened and steaming hot. Add a splash of water if too thick.
10 min - 4
Meanwhile, fry the prawns in the rest of the oil in a hot pan for 2 minutes, turning once, until pink and opaque all the way through.
2 min - 5
Taste the soup and add salt if needed. Ladle into deep bowls.
- 6
Top with the prawns, avocado, crumbled queso fresco, coriander and the broken tostadas. Serve with lime wedges.
Tips
- Use a hand blender to whisk the beans into the soup so it comes out silky with no lumps.
- Add the tostada pieces at the very end so they stay crisp, like croutons.
- Add the chipotle seeds for more heat. Scrape them out for a milder soup.
- If the soup thickens as it stands, loosen it with a little hot water or stock before serving.
Storing and freezing
Soup base (without prawns and toppings) keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days and freezes for 3 months. Cool within 1 to 2 hours. Cook prawns fresh, and reheat the soup until steaming hot all the way through.
Questions
Can I make it vegetarian?
Yes. Keep the gluten free vegetable stock, and replace the prawns with fried mushrooms or diced courgette. The soup base is vegan, and queso fresco can be left out.
Why is my soup thick like a paste?
Refried beans thicken a lot. Whisk in more hot stock or water, a ladleful at a time, until it falls from the spoon like double cream.
Is it gluten free?
Yes, if your stock and chipotle are labelled gluten free and the tostadas are plain corn. The soup has no dairy except the optional queso fresco, no egg and no nuts.
More made with tostadas and totopos (tortilla chips)
Tostadas de Atún con Aguacate (Tuna Ceviche Tostadas)
GFEFNFTostadas de Ceviche de Pescado (Fish Ceviche Tostadas)
GFDFEFTostadas de Tinga de Setas (Mushroom Tinga Tostadas)
VEFNFTostadas de Barbacoa con Salsa Taquera (Beef Barbacoa Tostadas)
GFDFEFSee every dish made with tostadas and totopos (tortilla chips)
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.