Would you believe that the humble pinto bean can be transformed into countless dishes? Yes! this legume can be used in so many different ways! It is a staple in Mexican cooking, and for many households, they are the side dish of choice. This means that the table is never without those delicious frijoles de la olla.😊
How Long Do Pinto Beans Take To Cook?
Dried pinto beans can take anywhere from 50 minutes to 3 hours depending on the method of cooking.
Soaking the beans in water for 2 hours or overnight, before cooking, will soften them up. This method is believed to help reduce the cooking time, but when I tested this, it only reduced the time by about 10 minutes and the beans were a bit bland because of the water they soaked up.
Another method is the “quick soak method”. This is done by bringing the beans to a boil, covering them, and then removing them from the heat to soak for one hour before cooking. It takes about 2½ hours total.
The final method is slow cooking the beans over low heat for up to 3 hours. This is the way my mother has done it for years and her frijoles are always so perfect! This is also the traditional method of cooking frijoles de la olla.
Needless to say, I’ve tried all the ways over the years. So, what’s my favorite method to use? Keep reading to see how I like to cook frijoles!😄
How To Make Frijoles De La Olla
Measure the pinto beans and place them on the countertop. Spread them out and pick out any rocks, stems, or shriveled beans.
Place the beans into a large bowl and cover them with water. Let them sit for 3 minutes. Then move them around with your hands to wash off the dirt.
Drain the water and repeat once more. Don’t skip this step! Beans are very dirty since they grow underground. This helps to clean them thoroughly.
Next, place the beans in a large pot. Add 8 cups of water and 1 cup of chicken broth or vegetable broth. It doesn’t seem like much, but it will give the beans an extra boost of flavor. So yummy!
Bring the beans to a boil, then cover them and reduce the heat to low.
Simmer for 1 hour, then remove the lid and add the onion, garlic, and salt. Simmer for another hour and a half or until done.
Check the beans every 30 minutes. Give them a stir and add more water if necessary, just make sure it’s hot water. Yup I use the same method my mom does. Mother knows best!
If you don’t have time for the slow cooking method, I suggest doing the ” quick soak method.”
Serve as desired. Enjoy!
How To Serve Pinto Beans
As I mentioned above, frijoles can be used in countless ways. These are some of my favorite ways to eat them.
- Serve them as a side, right out of the pot.
- Make them into refried beans and serve with queso fresco or other cheeses on top.
- Use them in tacos or make bean burritos.
- Make them into refried beans and use for breakfast nachos.
- Spread refried beans on tostadas and top with meat and/ or other toppings.
- Use them in chili or soups.
FAQ
In translation, they are beans from the pot.
It is not recommended due to the toxins that are naturally found in beans. The slow-cooker cannot reach temperatures high enough to destroy the toxins. However, if you must use the slow cooker, boil the beans at 212° for at least 30 minutes before placing them in the slow-cooker
Besides having to cook them a little longer, nothing. In fact, the longer they soak, the more water they absorb. Leaving you with less flavorful beans. Nobody wants that!
I hope you love this recipe and find many ways to use these tasty frijoles de la olla!
Till the next one,
Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating and leave your thoughts in the comment section below. Snap a picture of the recipe you made and tag me @mariasblisscorner with the hashtag #mariasblisscorner. Thank you!
Frijoles De La Olla
Ingredients
- 2 cups dried pinto beans
- 8 cups water + more if needed
- 1 cup chicken broth or vegetable broth
- 1 small onion cut in half
- 2 garlic cloves smashed
- 2½ tsp kosher salt + more to taste
Instructions
- Measure the pinto beans and place them on the countertop. Go through them and pick out any rocks, stems, or shriveled beans.
- Place the beans into a large bowl and cover them with water. Let them sit for 5 minutes. Then move them around with your hands to wash off the dirt. Drain the water and repeat once more.
- Place the beans in a large pot. Add 8 cups of water and 1 cup of chicken broth. Bring the beans to a boil, then cover them and reduce the heat to low.
- Simmer for 1 hour, then remove the lid and add the onion, garlic, and salt. Simmer for another hour and a half or until done. Check the beans every 30 minutes. Give them a stir and add more water and salt if necessary.
- Serve as desired. Enjoy!
Leave a Reply