A pot of freshly made frijoles or Frijoles de la Olla is my absolute favorite way to eat frijoles. Learn how to make Frijoles de la Olla on the stovetop in a cast iron pot or in an Instant Pot.
Reading: how to tell when boiled frijoles are ready
Growing up the three food staples were homemade flour tortillas, salsa casera, and our simple pot of frijoles.
I love how pure and fresh they taste fresh from the olla. As soon as they were ready to eat I would fill a large bowl of frijoles, add some fresh salsa and scoop them up with a homemade tortilla.
Read more: Easy Home Fries | Family Cuisine
My mom always said, “If there are frijoles in the house then you have something to eat.” These little nuggets can be eaten fresh, refried, or mixed in with chorizo.
One pot of frijoles can evolve into so many other dishes, for example: refried beans, chili beans, over a tostada, and so many others. Frijoles were the side dish of choice for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in our home.
Eaten fresh or refried, these little morsels can create a slew of other recipes. The sky is the limit but don’t forget, the secret is starting off with that fresh pot of frijoles de la olla.
Can you cook beans in an instant pot?
Read more: how to heat preserved boiled salted duck eggs | Family Cuisine
Absolutely! Scroll down for detailed recipe.
DO YOU HAVE TO SOAK DRIED BEANS BEFORE COOKING THEM?
No, not necessarily, but I like to soak for at least one hour to ensure beans are clean and plump when cooked. Put the beans in a pot, cover with water by two inches and let them soak for an hour or overnight. Drain, rinse and proceed with your recipe.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED:
- Large Pot or Instant Pot
- Colander
HOW TO STORE Cooked Beans
Beans can be refrigerated for up to 5 days and also freeze well in these plastic containers, which comes in very handy for later use.
OTHER DELICIOUS PINTO BEAN RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE:
If you love these easy and delicious Frijoles de la Olla, be sure to check out some of my other favorite pinto bean recipes below.
- Frijoles Charros (Cowboy Beans)
- Slow Cooker Borracho Beans
Photography by Jeanine Thurston
Originally published: March 2011. This recipe is also published in the Muy Bueno cookbook.
Read more: how to make hard boiled eggs crumbly yolk | Family Cuisine
