Description
This Perfect Pinto Beans Recipe is a savory and aromatic dish that is perfect for a hearty meal. The beans are soaked overnight for better texture and cooked with onions, garlic, and bay leaves for added flavor.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 pound dried pinto beans, rinsed
- 1/2 medium yellow onion, finely diced (about 1/2 cup)
- 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
- 2 bay leaves
- 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- Water as needed
Instructions
- Soak the beans: Place the pinto beans in a large bowl and cover with cold water. Let them soak for 8 to 24 hours.
- Drain and rinse: After soaking, drain and rinse the beans thoroughly.
- Cook the beans: Transfer the beans to a pot with water, onion, garlic, bay leaves, and olive oil. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 1½ to 2 hours.
- Season: Stir in salt in the final 10 minutes of cooking.
- Serve: Remove from heat, discard bay leaves, adjust seasoning if needed, and serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- Soaking the beans overnight helps reduce cooking time and improves digestibility.
- Do not add salt at the beginning to avoid tough skins; salt is added near the end of cooking.
- Keep beans covered with water during simmering to ensure even cooking and prevent drying.
- Leftover beans can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 200 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg