Perfect Beans Recipe [Frijoles de La Olla]
These brown beauties are known as Frijoles de La Olla across Mexico and a common favorite known to Latin America. Beans are typically served as a side dish, but for those like me, they’re the key food to a comforting Main Meal! With only five ingredients and this easy to follow instructions you'll be on your way to a nutritious, and delicious pot of stovetop beans.
Yield: 10
Cost: $3
Equipment
- Large boiling pot capacity: 4 to 6 quarts
- Knife
- Ladle
- Masher optional for later made refried beans
Materials
- 11 cups water
- 2 cups dried beans
- ½ large white onion or whole medium sized or whole medium
- 4-5 garlic cloves
- 2 tsp sea salt to taste or kosher salt
Instructions
- Measure 2 cups dried beans and rinse of any dirt and debris. Then, cut half of large onion and prep 4 garlic cloves. Set to side.
- Place rinsed beans in a large pot, add water, and set it on the burner. Turn stove on to medium-high. Cover with lid and set timer for 20 minutes.
- Now that 20 minutes have completed, give them a stir, they’ll have a slight wrinkle to them. Add onion and garlic (if flavoring beans), and return lid. Set to medium heat, and set timer to 60 minutes.
- Once 60 minutes have completed, add 2 teaspoons of salt, and stir for about 1 minute, cover with lid and turn stove off.
Tips to enjoy Frijoles as Cooked:
- Use a ladle to scoop up your freshly cooked beans and bean broth into a bowl and top with optional fixings like small chopped onion, cilantro, a dollop of salsa and grated cotija cheese or favorite finely shredded cheese blend.
Notes
Recipe yield - About 4 cups cooked beans and broth
Pot size - Using a large pot helps prevent spill over from foaming and reduces frequency of bean pot “check-ins.”
Chile - If you like spiced beans, add a chile de arbol (de-seeded), jalapeno or serrano when you add the salt. The longer you leave the chile to boil in the pot, the spicier it may be, so we advise to monitor to your liking!
How do I refry them for burritos, enchiladas and sides? These beans can be easily refried with the following ingredients: oil, cooked beans of choice, bean broth [preferably], and a bean masher. See the instructions at my How-to Make Refried Beans post.
For easy homemade pinto beans, search the LatinasQueComen site for Instant Pot Pinto Beans recipe.