Beans are a staple at my house. They’re cheap, healthy, and my kids love them.
I think my favorite way to eat them is in chili. Soak small red or black beans (or ideally half a pound of each) for a few hours.
Trim 1.5 pounds stew beef, add black pepper and salt. Brown in pan. Add in onion and fresh peppers (bell, poblano, jalapeno, serrano) and cook until onions are clear.
Pour a beer in there, Modelo works great. Add the beans. Add a can of chipotles in adobo sauce. Don’t bother chopping, they’ll break down. Add a jar of salsa. Add water to cover the beans. Add chili powder, bay leaves, oregano, cumin, and more salt & pepper to taste.
Simmer until the beans are fully cooked, probably around a couple hours. Serve with tortilla chips or corn bread.
And before anyone says “beans don’t belong in chili,” they absolutely do.
I’m always on the lookout for more ways to cook beans. What’s your favorite?
I love pinto beans. Throw them in an instant pot with a large onion, 4 cloves of garlic, and a jalapeno or two. Set it to cook for 45 minutes and let it release pressure naturally. Salt to taste. They make a great side and you can then make refried beans, if you like.
That’s basically how I make my pot of black beans. I just add in some epazote if I have it and cumin. The main trick I’ve been using lately is 1 lb beans to 7 cu water, and then after the pressure cook, I quick release and set it to simmer (sauté setting) for 5 minutes to cook down a bit. I add in olive oil and the salt at the end (after the release, before the simmer).