How to Cook Pinto Beans Recipe
This recipe guides you through the traditional method of cooking pinto beans from dried beans, resulting in tender, flavorful beans perfect for a variety of dishes. The beans are soaked overnight and then slowly simmered with aromatic ingredients like bay leaves, garlic, onion, and chili powder, in a flavorful broth for a hearty, satisfying result.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes (plus 8-24 hours soaking time)
- Cook Time: 2.5 to 3 hours
- Total Time: Approximately 26 hours (including soak time)
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American Southwestern
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Scale
Beans and Broth
- 1 cup dried pinto beans
- 3 to 4 cups broth (chicken, vegetable, or beef) or water
Aromatics and Spices
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 to 3 smashed garlic cloves
- 1 onion, halved
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
Instructions
- Soaking the Beans: Rinse the dry pinto beans thoroughly to remove any dust or debris. Place the beans in a large bowl and cover them with enough water to soak—about 3 cups of water for every 1 cup of beans. Let them soak for 8 to 24 hours to soften.
- Preparing Beans for Cooking: After soaking, discard any beans that float to the surface as they may be bad. Drain the soaking water and rinse the beans again quickly.
- Cooking the Pinto Beans: In a Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot, combine the drained beans with bay leaves, halved onion, smashed garlic cloves, chili powder, and 3 to 4 cups of your chosen broth or water.
- Bringing to a Boil and Simmering: Bring the pot to a boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low and cover the pot. Let it simmer gently for about 1 hour.
- Continuing to Simmer: After the first hour, adjust the lid so it’s slightly ajar to prevent boiling over. Continue simmering the beans for another 1½ to 2 hours, checking every 30 minutes to skim off any foam and add water as needed to keep the beans covered.
- Final Steps: Once the beans are tender and cooked through, remove the bay leaves, onion halves, and garlic cloves from the pot. Decide if you want to keep the flavorful bean cooking liquid or drain it according to your preference.
Notes
- Soaking beans overnight reduces cook time and improves digestibility.
- Floating beans after soaking should be discarded as they may be spoiled.
- Adjust broth quantity based on desired bean consistency, adding more liquid for soupier beans.
- Skimming foam helps keep the broth clear and enhances flavor.
- If using water instead of broth, add extra seasonings to boost flavor.
Keywords: pinto beans, cooked beans, soaked beans, stovetop beans, easy bean recipe, homemade beans, chili powder beans, slow simmer beans
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