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pinto beans on a spoon
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Pinto Beans From Scratch

Make Pinto Beans From Scratch on the stovetop of using an Instant Pot with this simply delicious recipe. The perfect side dish to any meal.
Prep Time20 mins
Cook Time1 hr 45 mins
Power Soak1 hr 20 mins
Total Time3 hrs 25 mins
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Hispanic, Mexican
Keyword: beans, dried beans
Servings: 8
Calories: 244kcal
Author: Ty

Ingredients

  • 1 lb dried pinto beans sorted and rinsed
  • 4 c water plus 4 cups to soak for the stovetop method
  • 1/2 c yellow onion diced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 3 chicken bouillon cubes
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste optional
  • 2 tbsp canola or olive oil optional
  • 1 tbsp cumin
  • 2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 2 dried bay leaves

Instructions

Stovetop Method

  • Add the beans to a large pot and cover them with 4 cups of water. Bring them to a boil over medium for about 15 minutes. Turn off the heat and cover the pot with the lid. Let the beans soak for 1 hour. Drain the beans after an hour and return the to the pot.
  • To the soaked beans, add the onion, garlic, bay leaf, bouillon cubes, cumin, oregano, and salt. Stir well and place the pot over medium heat to bring the pot to a boil; stir frequently. Cover the pot and turn the flame down to a simmering low for an 1 1/2 hours. The beans should be fork tender and ready to eat at this point.
  • Optional: Stir in 2 tablespoons each of canola oil and tomato paste. Allow the pot to simmer, stirring often for 10-15 minutes over low heat. Turn off the heat and serve as desired.

Instant Pot No Soak Method

  • Pour the rinsed beans into the pressure cooker with the onion, garlic, bouillon cube, oregano, cumin, salt, and bay leaves followed by the water, stir it well. Place the top and close the valve. Set the pressure to High, Cook Time to 1 hour, then press the Pressure Cook button to start. Once the beans are done, use a long spoon to release the pressure valve. Remove the lids after all of the steam has released.
  • Optional: To add more flavor, turn the setting to Sauté then Less. Add the tomato paste and canola oil. Let the pot simmer, stirring frequently for 10-15 minutes. Turn off the Instant Pot by pushing Cancel. Serve as desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 244kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 986mg | Potassium: 868mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 71IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 87mg | Iron: 4mg