Cuban Black Beans (Frijoles Negros)
Cuban Black Beans (Frijoles Negros)
Ingredients
For the Black Beans
- 14 ounces dried black beans, washed and rinsed
- 4 cups water
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon salt
For the Sofrito
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup yellow onion, diced
- 1/2 cup green bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
- 1 teaspoon Abuela's favorite seasonings
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup cooking wine
For Finishing
- 1/4 cup tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
For Serving
- 4 cups cooked white rice
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- 1
Wash and rinse the dried black beans thoroughly under cold running water. Pick out any small stones or debris.
⏱️ 5 min
- 2
Place the washed black beans into an Instant Pot or pressure cooker. Add 4 cups of water, 1 teaspoon of salt, and the 2 bay leaves.
⏱️ 2 min
- 3
Secure the lid on the Instant Pot and set it to pressure cook on high for 35 minutes. Allow for natural pressure release for 10 minutes, then quick release any remaining pressure.
⏱️ 35 min
- 4
While the beans are cooking, prepare the sofrito. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet or separate pot over medium heat.
⏱️ 3 min
- 5
Add the diced yellow onion and green bell pepper to the hot olive oil. Sauté for 5-7 minutes, or until the vegetables begin to soften.
⏱️ 7 min
- 6
Season the sautéing vegetables with 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1/4 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper, 1 teaspoon of Abuela's favorite seasonings, 1/2 teaspoon of dried oregano, and 1/2 teaspoon of ground cumin. Continue to sauté for another 2-3 minutes to allow the spices to bloom.
⏱️ 3 min
- 7
Add the minced garlic to the skillet and sauté for just 1 minute, stirring constantly to prevent it from burning.
⏱️ 1 min
- 8
Deglaze the pan with 1/4 cup of cooking wine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon to incorporate all the flavor into the sofrito. Cook until the wine has mostly evaporated.
⏱️ 2 min
- 9
Once the beans are cooked and soft enough to be easily squished between your fingers, carefully remove the bay leaves from the Instant Pot. Add the prepared sofrito directly into the Instant Pot with the beans.
⏱️ 3 min
- 10
Stir in the 1/4 cup of tomato sauce, 1 tablespoon of white vinegar, and 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar into the bean mixture. These ingredients are essential for balancing the flavor, providing acidity and sweetness.
⏱️ 2 min
- 11
Select the 'Sauté' function on the Instant Pot and set it to 'Low' (or use a slow cook function on low). Simmer the black beans for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they reach the desired thickness. The longer they simmer, the thicker the consistency will become.
⏱️ 20 min
- 12
Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve the hot Cuban black beans over a bed of cooked white rice. For presentation, you can use a glass to form the rice into a dome shape on the plate.
⏱️ 2 min
- 13
Garnish generously with fresh chopped cilantro before serving.
⏱️ 1 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Cuban Black Beans (Frijoles Negros)
Ingredients
For the Black Beans
- 14 ounces dried black beans, washed and rinsed
- 4 cups water
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon salt
For the Sofrito
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup yellow onion, diced
- 1/2 cup green bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
- 1 teaspoon Abuela's favorite seasonings
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup cooking wine
For Finishing
- 1/4 cup tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
For Serving
- 4 cups cooked white rice
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- 1
Wash and rinse the dried black beans thoroughly under cold running water. Pick out any small stones or debris.
⏱️ 5 min - 2
Place the washed black beans into an Instant Pot or pressure cooker. Add 4 cups of water, 1 teaspoon of salt, and the 2 bay leaves.
⏱️ 2 min - 3
Secure the lid on the Instant Pot and set it to pressure cook on high for 35 minutes. Allow for natural pressure release for 10 minutes, then quick release any remaining pressure.
⏱️ 35 min - 4
While the beans are cooking, prepare the sofrito. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet or separate pot over medium heat.
⏱️ 3 min - 5
Add the diced yellow onion and green bell pepper to the hot olive oil. Sauté for 5-7 minutes, or until the vegetables begin to soften.
⏱️ 7 min - 6
Season the sautéing vegetables with 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1/4 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper, 1 teaspoon of Abuela's favorite seasonings, 1/2 teaspoon of dried oregano, and 1/2 teaspoon of ground cumin. Continue to sauté for another 2-3 minutes to allow the spices to bloom.
⏱️ 3 min - 7
Add the minced garlic to the skillet and sauté for just 1 minute, stirring constantly to prevent it from burning.
⏱️ 1 min - 8
Deglaze the pan with 1/4 cup of cooking wine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon to incorporate all the flavor into the sofrito. Cook until the wine has mostly evaporated.
⏱️ 2 min - 9
Once the beans are cooked and soft enough to be easily squished between your fingers, carefully remove the bay leaves from the Instant Pot. Add the prepared sofrito directly into the Instant Pot with the beans.
⏱️ 3 min - 10
Stir in the 1/4 cup of tomato sauce, 1 tablespoon of white vinegar, and 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar into the bean mixture. These ingredients are essential for balancing the flavor, providing acidity and sweetness.
⏱️ 2 min - 11
Select the 'Sauté' function on the Instant Pot and set it to 'Low' (or use a slow cook function on low). Simmer the black beans for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they reach the desired thickness. The longer they simmer, the thicker the consistency will become.
⏱️ 20 min - 12
Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve the hot Cuban black beans over a bed of cooked white rice. For presentation, you can use a glass to form the rice into a dome shape on the plate.
⏱️ 2 min - 13
Garnish generously with fresh chopped cilantro before serving.
⏱️ 1 min