Frijoles de la Olla 
(Mexican beans in broth)

Frijoles in an olla simmering on the stove
Image by Eliazar Parra Cardenas

Frijoles de la olla, or beans in a pot, are good in burritos and tacos, on tostadas or on their own as a side dish. These slow-cooked, creamy beans are traditionally made in a bean pot, or olla.

Frijoles de la Olla

Frijoles de la Olla

Course: Vegetables, Beans and PulsesCuisine: Mexico
Makes 4 to 6 servings

Frijoles de la olla, or beans in a pot, are good in Mexican burritos and tacos, on tostadas or on their own as a side dish. Traditionally made in a ceramic bean pot, or olla.

Ingredients

  • Lard, salt pork or oil — 2 tablespoons

  • Onion, chopped — 1

  • Dried beans, any variety, rinsed and soaked overnight — 2 cups

  • Salt — 1 to 2 teaspoons

Directions

  • Heat the lard, salt pork or oil in a large saucepan over medium flame (the salt pork until it renders its fat). Add the onions and saute until just translucent.
  • Stir in the soaked beans and enough water to cover beans by about 1 inch. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, for 1 to 2 hours, or until the beans are cooked through and tender. Add water as needed to keep the beans covered.
  • Near the end of the cooking time, stir in salt to taste.

Frijoles de la Olla Notes and Variations

  • Feijão Preto (Brazil) and Caraotas Negras (Venezuela): Use black beans.
  • Frijoles Borrachos (Drunken beans): Use pinto beans and substitute one bottle of beer for some of the water. Crumbled bacon is also sometimes added. Popular in northern Mexico.
  • Different beans are popular in different regions of Mexico. Pintos are most common, but in the Yucatán, black beans are favored.
  • When using black beans, Mexican cooks often add epazote, a pungent herb, to the pot. Epazote can be found both fresh and dried in the Latin markets. Use a sprig of fresh or a big pinch of dried.
  • Crumble some Mexican cheese over the top before serving if you like.
  • Throw a clove or two of garlic into the simmering beans for added flavor.
  • Add a whole fresh or a chopped pickled jalapeño to give a kick to your beans.

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