Puerto Rican Stewed Beans
Ingredients
Beans from scratch
- 1 lb dry pinto beans
- 1 yellow onion, halved
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 bay leaf
- Kosher salt
Sofrito
- 8 cloves garlic
- 1/2 small green bell pepper, roughly chopped
- 1 scallion, roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup cilantro
- 1/4 cup red onion, diced
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 veg bouillon cube or 1/2 tsp better than bouillon vegetable base
- 1/2 tsp sazón
- Juice of 1 lime
Stewed beans additions
- 2 tbsp avocado oil
- 1/2 medium red onion, diced
- 1 jalapeño, diced (optional)
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 3-4 tbsp sofrito
- 1 tsp adobo seasoning
- 1 cup kabocha squash or Yukon gold potatoes, cubed
- 3-4 sprigs cilantro
Preparation
Place your dry beans in a large bowl and cover them with water by 2 inches, then allow them to soak overnight
Drain and rinse the beans, then place them in a large pot with fresh water to cover by 2 inches
Add the onion halves, garlic cloves, and bay leaf, then bring the pot to a low boil
Partially cover with a lid and cook for 30 minutes
Skim off any noticeable foam from the top, then add about 2 teaspoons of kosher salt
Add additional water as needed, partially cover, and cook for another 30 to 40 minutes, stirring occasionally
Remove from heat and discard the onions and bay leaf
For the sofrito, add garlic, pepper, scallion, cilantro, onion, vinegar, bouillon, sazón, lime juice, and a generous pinch of salt to a blender cup and pulse until evenly minced
Place a large pot over medium-low heat and add the oil
Once hot, add the onion, jalapeño, and a generous pinch of salt, then sauté until softened
Add the tomato paste and sauté in the oil for 2 to 3 minutes to deepen the color
Pour in the sofrito and continue sautéing for 2 to 3 minutes until fragrant
Transfer the beans and 4 cups of the cooking liquid to the pot
Add the squash, adobo seasoning, cilantro, and 2 cups of water
Stir to combine, then bring everything to a simmer
Partially cover with a lid and cook for 20 minutes until the squash has softened
If desired, use the back of a cooking spoon to lightly mash some of the beans for a thicker consistency
Stir well, then remove from heat and serve as desired
