Try this bean recipe for Frijoles de la Olla, which translates as "beans cooked in a pot," probably the most common dish in Mexico. Beans are one of the foundations of Mexican cooking.
Prep Time15 minutesmins
Cook Time2 hourshrs30 minutesmins
Total Time2 hourshrs45 minutesmins
Course: Beans
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: beans, Easy, frijoles
Servings: 10servings
Calories: 196kcal
Author: Douglas Cullen
Ingredients
1poundof beanspintos, black beans, flor de mayo, flor de junio
½white onion
2clovesof garlic
4fresh epazote leaves or ½ teaspoon dried epazote
1teaspoonof saltadd more to taste if required
Instructions
Check the beans for any stones or debris.
In a colander, rinse the beans under cold water.
Place the beans in the cooking pot and cover with 3 inches of water.
Allow the beans to soak overnight.
Discard the soaking water.
Add cold water to cover the beans by 4 inches.
Add the ½ white onion and 2 cloves of garlic.
Bring the water to a boil and then reduce to a simmer.
Simmer the beans for 2 hours.
Add 1 teaspoon of salt.
Simmer for 30 more minutes.
Taste the beans to verify that they are fully cooked and soft. If they are not soft enough cook for an additional 30 minutes.
Adjust the salt to taste and serve.
Notes
Preparation Notes
Cooking time is approximate. Some beans need more time to fully cook and others need less.
A slow cooker or pressure cooker are great ways to cook beans.
Beans will keep for up to 5 days in the refrigerator. You can freeze them but it will change the texture.
Buy your beans from a market that sells lots of beans. Fresh is better. The older the beans the tougher they will be.
Substitutions
You can make frijoles de la olla with pinto beans, black beans, flor de mayo. or flor de junio beans.
If you can't find epazote you can omit it or substitute Mexican oregano. The oregano changes the taste slightly but is still very good.