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Pinto Beans

Hearty, seasoned pinto beans simmered until tender and finished with lime and cilantro.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time1 hour 45 minutes
Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 cups dry pinto beans
  • 1 tablespoon avocado oil
  • 1/2 white onion chopped
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 8 cups water plus more as needed
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 2 teaspoons sea salt plus more to taste
  • freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice plus more to taste
  • 1 jalapeño pepper stemmed and diced
  • chili powder to taste
  • fresh cilantro for garnish

Instructions

  • Sort and rinse the beans: place the beans in a large colander and remove any stones or debris, then rinse under cold water.
  • Soak the beans: transfer rinsed beans to a large bowl, cover with 2 to 3 inches of water, discard any beans that float, and soak at room temperature 8 hours or overnight; drain and rinse before cooking.
  • Heat oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, then add the chopped onion and sauté until soft, about 5 minutes; add the diced jalapeño with the onion if you want heat.
  • Add the ground cumin and stir until fragrant, then add the soaked beans, 8 cups water, dried oregano, 2 teaspoons sea salt, and several grinds of freshly ground black pepper; bring to a boil.
  • Reduce heat to a simmer and cook uncovered until the beans are tender and beginning to break down, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours; check for doneness starting at 1 hour and add more water as needed to keep beans submerged.
  • Remove from heat and stir in 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice; season to taste with additional salt (about 1/2 to 1 teaspoon more if desired), more pepper, and chili powder if using.
  • Garnish with fresh cilantro if desired and serve.

Equipment

  • large colander
  • Large Bowl
  • Large Pot or Dutch Oven
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Knife
  • Cutting Board

Notes

  • Soaking reduces cooking time and improves digestibility.
  • Check beans for doneness starting at 1 hour.
  • Add more water as needed to keep beans submerged while simmering.
  • Adjust salt, lime, and chili powder to taste after cooking.