Description
Mexican home kitchens come alive with frijoles de la olla, a simple yet soulful bean dish that speaks volumes about traditional cooking. Slow-simmered pinto beans meld with onion, garlic, and salt, creating a comforting classic you’ll crave alongside warm tortillas.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups pinto beans
- 6 cups water
Aromatics:
- 1/4 medium white onion
- 1 garlic clove
Seasoning:
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Thoroughly cleanse dried beans under cool running water, removing any debris or discolored legumes. Submerge beans in a spacious container, ensuring water level rises at least 2 inches above the beans.
- After 3-4 hours of soaking, drain and rinse beans completely. Transfer beans to a large cooking pot, incorporating whole peeled onion and crushed garlic cloves.
- Pour fresh water to cover beans by approximately 2 inches. Bring liquid to a robust boil over high heat, then immediately reduce temperature to a gentle, consistent simmer.
- Cover pot with a tight-fitting lid, allowing beans to cook undisturbed for roughly 1.5 hours. Periodically check water levels, adding more if liquid diminishes.
- Introduce salt during the final 30 minutes of cooking. Continue simmering until beans reach a creamy, tender consistency, with minimal resistance when pressed between fingers.
- Once fully cooked, remove whole onion and discard. Let beans rest for 10 minutes before serving to allow flavors to harmonize and liquid to slightly thicken.
Notes
- For faster cooking, use a pressure cooker to reduce total time by half and maintain bean tenderness.
- Customize flavor by adding smoked ham hock, bacon, or chorizo during simmering for extra depth and richness.
- Prevent bean skins from splitting by adding salt only after beans become tender, which helps maintain their structural integrity.
- Store leftover beans in cooking liquid to keep them moist and prevent drying out, reheating gently with a splash of water when serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 70
- Sugar: 0.5 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 0.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 13 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg