Description
Mexican pinto bean stew brings hearty comfort straight from traditional kitchens. Simmering with rich spices and tender beans, this soul-warming dish connects you to generations of home cooking.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups (480 ml) dry pinto beans
- 8 cups (1.9 liters) water, plus more as needed
- ½ white onion, chopped
- 1 jalapeño pepper, diced
Spices and Seasonings:
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons sea salt, plus more to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Chili powder, to taste
Finishing Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice, plus more to taste
- Fresh cilantro for garnish
Instructions
- Meticulously inspect the pinto beans, removing any imperfect or foreign particles, then rinse under cold running water until clear.
- Submerge the cleaned beans in a spacious container, covering with 2-3 inches of cool water, and allow to hydrate overnight at room temperature.
- Select a generously sized cooking pot and warm avocado oil (30 milliliters or ) over medium heat, carefully sautéing diced onions until translucent and softened.
- Incorporate ground cumin (5 grams or ) to release its aromatic essence, stirring briefly to prevent burning.
- Add the previously soaked beans, fresh water (750 milliliters or ), dried oregano (3 grams or ), kosher salt (10 grams or ), and freshly cracked black pepper to enhance the flavor profile.
- Elevate the liquid to a robust boil, then immediately reduce heat to a gentle simmer, allowing the beans to tenderize uncovered for approximately 60-90 minutes.
- Once beans reach a creamy consistency, introduce fresh lime juice (30 milliliters or ) and optional jalapeño for additional warmth.
- Taste and calibrate seasonings, potentially adding chili powder (5 grams or ) for deeper complexity.
- Garnish with freshly chopped cilantro and serve immediately, or store in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or freeze for extended preservation.
Notes
- Prep-ahead magic happens when you sort and soak beans the night before, ensuring tender, creamy texture.
- Transformative sautéing releases deep flavors from onions and spices, creating a rich aromatic base for this hearty stew.
- Slow simmering allows beans to soften gradually, absorbing all the delicious seasonings while developing complex taste profiles.
- Flexible cooking method lets you adjust heat and spiciness by adding jalapeños or additional chili powder to suit personal preferences.
- Quick finishing touches like fresh lime juice and cilantro elevate the stew from simple to spectacular, brightening each spoonful.
- Convenient storage options mean you can enjoy leftovers for days, with freezing preserving the stew’s robust flavors perfectly.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 0.5 g
- Sodium: 960 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 12 g
- Protein: 11 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg