Alta's Slow Cooker Pinto Beans

It's hard to imagine a more familiar dish than the pot of humble pinto beans that remains a staple in my relative's homes. When developing this recipe, I learned how much my family's recipes vary, from the ingredients we use to our methods of cooking. Some family members cook the beans in water, for example, while others add all the seasonings to the beans right from the beginning of the cook time. My Memo Anita always used an olla de barro (clay pot), while other relatives use a stockpot, a Crock pot or a pressure cooker. If I had to share one recipe, whose would it be? Fortunately, all agreed that my mother's pinto bean recipe is the best. She continues to make her beans in a slow cooker, and my cookbook includes an Instant Pot

method, too. Though it uses the same ingredients as my mother's, an Instant pot greatly reduces the amount of cooking time. You will find the beans to be just as rich and creamy with this method. Let me know if you try this recipe by tagging me on Instagram at @y_delicaices.

ALTA’S PINTO BEANS    Frijoles de Alta

YDelicacies.com Yvette Zuniga Jemison

Servings: 8

INGREDIENTS

1 pound pinto beans, rinsed

¼ pound bacon (about 4 slices), chopped

1 medium onion, sliced

2 tablespoon olive oil

2 tablespoons chili powder

1 tablespoon minced garlic

2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 large bunch cilantro, chopped and divided in half

OPTIONAL

Fresh Salsa for serving

CROCK POT METHOD

 1. Add the beans, bacon, onion, olive oil, chili powder, garlic, salt, cumin, black pepper ad half of the cilantro into the Crock-Pot.

2. Pour 6 cups of boiling water, into the Crock-Pot and stir to combine.  Secure the lid and set on high until the water begins to simmer, about 2 hours.

3. Add 2 more cups of boiling water to the Crock-Pot, and continue to cook on high until the beans are tender and have a creamy interior, 3-4 hours.

4. Taste the beans and broth and adjust the seasonings if needed.  Add the remaining cilantro and serve with a scoop of the optional fresh salsa.