Notes
If you've never made beans from scratch before, you're missing out. They're easy to make and they're way better than anything you'll find in a can.
The core method is the same no matter which type of bean you're cooking. Soak the beans overnight, boil them briefly, and then simmer them until they're tender.
I usually like to add in some additional flavorings, as well. I'll almost always add in some slices of yellow onion and whole cloves of garlic. Depending on the type of bean, I might also add in bay leaves, Parmesan rinds, avocado leaves (fantastic for black beans) or other herbs and spices. I also like to cook the beans in a mixture of bone broth and water for extra flavor, but they'll be great even if you just use water.
There's a bit of a debate over whether to soak beans before cooking. I prefer to do it, as I don't find it affects the taste at all and it makes the cooking process much faster.
Ingredients
- 1-2 cups dried beans
- water and/or bone broth
- salt
- (optional) onion, garlic, bay leaves, Parmesan rinds, etc
Process
Place the dried beans into a bowl and cover them completely with cold water. Place them in the fridge for 12 hours to overnight to soak.
Drain the beans and add them to a large pot. Cover with water or broth, and add in any additional aromatics or flavorings you plan to use.
Bring the beans to a rolling boil for 10 minutes. This is a step I learned from Rancho Gordo (one of my favorite places to source beans). After 10 minutes, reduce the heat to a very gentle simmer. You want them to just be barely producing a few bubbles.
Simmer on low, stirring occasionally. You will likely need to add more water or broth throughout the process as they soak up the liquid. Make sure you add hot water or broth so that it doesn't halt the cooking process.
Don't add salt to the beans until they are quite soft. Once they are soft, salt them generously, wait a bit for it to absorb, and then taste and continue that process until you're happy with the seasoning.
Cook until the beans are nice and soft and you have a really nice bean broth.
Enjoy!
