EASY PINTO BEANS RECIPE:
Enjoy homemade pinto beans with this classic and simple recipe:
- Soak beans overnight. Rinse.
- Add beans to pot. Add water.
- Add salt, add a whole onion (or dice it up) and a head of garlic.
- Bring to boil, then bring down to simmer.
When they get soft, taste and add more salt if desired.
This usually takes about 2-3 hours.
Once the beans are cooked and soft, you can add any other ingredients to spice it up!
Optional additions and variations:
- Chile de Arbol, destemmed
- Sprigs of Savory, Thyme and/or Oregano
- Cumin powder
- Chipotle peppers (gives it a smokiness!)
- Chile powder (try smoked for smokiness)
- Pork, bacon - or try mushrooms!
- Any hot peppers like diced jalapenos
- Add diced onions, tomatoes, cilantro, pickled jalapenos as toppers
- You can mash these to make refried beans!
Are your beans not getting soft? There may be two reasons:
- Cooking dried beans can result in beans not getting soft if acidic ingredients such as tomatoes, chiles, or chili sauce are added before they get soft. Acidic ingredients prevent the beans from softening. To fix, soak overnight beforehand for best results, then drain before cooking. Add fresh water and cook beans separately until tender, then add the acidic ingredients such as chiles, tomatoes, etc.
- Old beans also may not get soft, so use fresh beans if you want them to get soft.
