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Simple Pot-Cooked Beans (Frijoles de la Olla)





Yields
Makes about 8 cups



Total Time
45 mins

Cooked in this easiest possible way, beans have many possibilities: for eating as is, with toppings, as fillings, or in soups. To flavor them, Lupe Romero Vidal, a home cook in Hidalgo, Mexico, uses fresh avocado leaves--which have a delicately herbal taste but are unavailable in the United States. However, the pungent herb called epazote, carried by Latino markets and many grocery stores in the Southwest, makes a great flavoring too. Even without either, the recipe will still be good. You can certainly use olive oil instead of lard, but it's not as traditional (and the lard is delicious).

 

su-Simple Pot-Cooked Beans (Frijoles de la Olla) Image




Photo: Dave Lauridsen

 1 pound dried beans, soaked overnight in water to cover by 2 in.*
 1 whole Mexican boiling/grilling onion (cebolla) or 1/2 white onion, peeled
 2 or 3 sprigs fresh epazote
 1 1/2 tablespoons Fresh Lard Seasoned with Herbs, Garlic, and Orange
  About 2 tsp. medium-fine sea salt or kosher salt
Step 1
1

Put beans in a 6- to 8-qt. pot and add enough water to cover by 2 in. (The pot should be large enough to allow plenty of air space over the beans and water, so steam can circulate.) Add onion. Bring to a boil, covered, over high heat.

Step 2
2

Boil beans, uncovered, 10 minutes. Reduce heat to a bare simmer and cook, lid barely ajar, until beans are starting to get tender (from 20 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the age of the beans). Add epazote, lard or oil, and 2 tsp. salt.

Step 3
3

Cook, lid barely ajar and adding enough hot water to keep beans covered by about 2 in., until beans are very tender but not broken, 15 minutes to 3 hours. Season to taste with salt.

Step 4
4

Eat beans immediately or let cool in their broth. If eating right away, remove onion and epazote and ladle into warm bowls with some broth.

Step 5
5

*Soak the beans in water overnight to shave off cooking time. If you don't presoak, give the beans more time to cook--at least 30 minutes more (it varies depending on the freshness of the beans).

Nutrition Facts

Servings 0

Amount Per Serving
Calories 213Calories from Fat 11
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 3g5%

Saturated Fat 0.8g4%
Cholesterol 2mg1%
Sodium 402mg17%
Total Carbohydrate 36g12%

Dietary Fiber 9g36%
Protein 13g26%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.