Pot of Beans

Name: Pot of Beans
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 2 h 10 min
Yield: Makes 6 cups
Ingredients: 1 pound dried beans, such as kidney, cannellini, navy, pinto, or black; 8 to 10 cups water, plus more for soaking; 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil; 1 onion, chopped; 3 garlic cloves, chopped; 1 fresh chile, chopped; Coarse salt; Optional flavor add-ins (see below)

Rating: 3.61 stars

23 Ratings
2 Reviews

These pantry staples are versatile, healthful, and delicious. Count on them for simple, satisfying meals.

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Recipe Summary

prep:

10 mins

total:

2 hrs 10 mins

Yield:

Makes 6 cups

Ingredients

Beans

1 pound dried beans, such as kidney, cannellini, navy, pinto, or black
8 to 10 cups water, plus more for soaking

Flavor Base

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, chopped
1 fresh chile, chopped
Coarse salt
Optional flavor add-ins (see below)

Directions

Step 1

Make the beans: Place beans in a large bowl; cover with water by several inches. Refrigerate, covered, overnight. Drain. (For a quick soak, cover beans in a saucepan with water. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Let stand, covered, for 1 hour. Drain.)

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Step 2

Make the flavor base: Heat oil in a pot over medium heat. Cook onion, garlic, chile, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and any add-ins until onion and garlic are soft, about 5 minutes.
Step 3

Add beans, 8 cups water, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat. Simmer, partially covered, adding water as needed to keep submerged, until tender, 35 minutes to 2 hours, depending on type of bean. (Start checking for doneness after 30 minutes.)

Cook's Notes

Stir a few tablespoons of any of these into the flavor base: bell peppers, sausage, bacon, tomatoes. Or season with herbs and spices (cumin, paprika, cayenne, oregano, thyme, rosemary, bay leaf).

Cook's Notes

Straight from the pot, beans make a meal. Serve cannellini beans Italian-style, with crostini and escarole sauteed in garlic and olive oil. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, and finish with fried rosemary sprigs and a little more oil.

Reviews (2)

23 Ratings

5 star values: 5
4 star values: 7
3 star values: 9
2 star values: 1
1 star values: 1

Anonymous

09/12/2012

OH YUM! I've never cooked cannellini beans before, and am really new to bean cooking in general. THANKS for this recipe - great one to rif from! Only had dried smoked chili, so rehydrated it. Added some cooked bacon (old), a bit of leftover Speck (from another recipe here), 1/3 bell pepper, 2 stalk celery. Put in 4 cups water then remembered leftover 1 1/2 qt chicken stock, used it. 3 hours later...oh lordy it's divine bean soup!!

Anonymous

03/04/2011

Really easy! I mashed some up to top crostini with, and sprinkled with sea salt and olive oil. My beans took only 35 minutes.

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Cook's Notes

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Reviews (2)

All Reviews for Pot of Beans