Spicy Black Bean and Coconut Soup

Nigerian frejon, a smooth puree of beans and coconut milk, inspired this rich, flavorful soup that happens to be vegetarian (even vegan). We blend only a portion of the bean mixture so the soup is lightly thickened, not a heavy puree, with lots of texture from creamy whole beans. If you have coconut oil in the pantry, use it in place of the neutral oil—it will add extra coconut flavor and aroma.