In the bowl of your crockpot, add the frozen corn kernels, diced onion, minced garlic, diced red bell pepper, and the rinsed black beans. Pour in the vegetable broth to cover the vegetables.
Sprinkle in the chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, and season generously with salt and pepper. Stir everything together until well combined.
Securely cover the crockpot with its lid. Cook on low heat for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, until the vegetables are tender and flavors meld beautifully.
After cooking, use an immersion blender to puree the soup to your preferred consistency. For a heartier texture, blend just half or a third of the soup, leaving the rest chunky for added bite.
Stir in the heavy cream or coconut milk along with the freshly squeezed lime juice. Mix until well incorporated and allow the soup to simmer on low heat for an additional 15-20 minutes, ensuring it’s heated through.
Before serving, taste the soup and adjust the seasoning with additional salt, pepper, or more lime juice to suit your palate.
Notes
Ladle the soup into bowls and top with cilantro, cheese, and tortilla strips for added texture.