Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the yellow onion, green bell pepper, celery, and garlic. Sauté for about 5 minutes until the vegetables are soft.
Add the soaked beans along with the vegetable broth, dried thyme, dried oregano, bay leaves, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper.
Bring the mixture to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer gently for 2 hours until the beans are very tender. You can also mash a portion of your beans against the side of the pot to create a thicker.