How to Make Authentic Puerto Rican Style Beans

Beans are a staple ingredient in Puerto Rican cuisine Families across the island cook up pots of delicious, flavorful beans to enjoy alongside rice, meat, and starchy vegetables. While canned beans may be convenient, preparing Puerto Rican style beans from scratch results in the most authentic flavor Continue reading to learn everything you need to know to make tender, perfect pigeon peas or pink beans cooked in the true Puerto Rican fashion.

Why Make Your Own Puerto Rican Beans?

Canned beans certainly save time, but making Puerto Rican beans completely from scratch offers some major advantages:

• Big flavor – The beans absorb seasoning from the sofrito, broth, and herbs.

• Better texture – Slow cooking makes the beans incredibly soft and tender.

• Cost savings – Dried beans are far cheaper than canned.

• Customizable – Make the beans as mild or spicy as you want.

• More nutrients – Homemade beans retain more nutrients than canned varieties,

• Cultural pride – Cooking this Puerto Rican staple from scratch honors traditions

When you want the most authentic, delicious beans to proudly serve alongside classic Puerto Rican dishes, accept no shortcuts. Take the time to make them the old fashioned way.

Traditional Puerto Rican Bean Varieties

Two types of beans are most popular in Puerto Rican cooking:

Pink Beans

Also called habichuelas rosadas, these are small, oval pink beans. When cooked, they become extremely creamy and tender. Pink beans pair especially well with coconut milk.

Pigeon Peas

Known as gandules in Puerto Rico, these petite green legumes look like pebbles. Pigeon peas have an earthy flavor and hold their shape well when cooked.

While pink or pigeon peas are traditional, you can certainly use other beans like black beans or red kidney beans if you prefer. Just adjust seasonings to suit the variety.

Necessary Ingredients

Part of the appeal of Puerto Rican style beans is that they require only a handful of ingredients:

• 1 pound dried beans, soaked overnight then drained

• 1 onion, diced

• 1 green bell pepper, diced

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 2 cubanelle peppers, diced

• 1 packet Sazón seasoning

• Culantro or cilantro, chopped

• Chicken or vegetable broth

• Salt to taste

• Sofrito, homemade or store bought

This short list packs a flavor punch. The trick is slowly cooking the beans with the aromatic veggies, broth, and classic Puerto Rican sofrito.

Step-By-Step Cooking Instructions

Follow these simple steps for Puerto Rican perfection:

1. Rinse the beans and soak overnight, then drain and rinse again. This helps shorten cooking time.

2. In a large pot, cook the onion, green pepper, cubanelle peppers, and garlic in olive oil 5 minutes.

3. Add drained beans, broth, Sazón, and enough water to cover beans by 2 inches.

4. Bring to a boil then reduce heat. Simmer 1-2 hours until very soft, adding more water if needed.

5. Stir in sofrito and culantro or cilantro. Cook 30 minutes more.

6. Remove from heat and season with salt to taste. Beans are ready to enjoy!

It’s okay if your beans end up a bit soupy. Puerto Rican style beans often have extra broth. Simply spoon some over rice.

Choosing the Best Sofrito

No Puerto Rican bean dish would be complete without sofrito. This flavor base combines herbs, peppers, garlic, and onions. While you can make your own, store bought sofrito offers convenience without sacrificing authenticity. When buying, look for:

• Recado de achiote – A red paste containing annatto seed, cilantro, garlic, and oregano

• Sofrito creol – A green blend with cilantro, peppers, onions, and garlic

• Criollo – A red puree of peppers, garlic, coriander, and oregano

Use about 1 cup sofrito per 1 pound of dried beans. Stir it in during the last 30 minutes of cooking to preserve the fresh flavor.

Sample Variations to Try

Once you master the classic preparation, try these tasty twists:

• Add 1 cup coconut milk along with the sofrito for richness

• Use smoked pork hocks or ham bones to infuse smoky, meaty flavor

• For heat, include diced jalapeño, cayenne pepper, or hot sauce

• Finish with a splash of red wine vinegar or lime juice

• Garnish with chopped tomato, diced avocado, queso fresco

• For fun weekends, include a spoonful of your favorite mofongo alongside the beans

Handy Tips for Perfect Beans

• Always soak beans overnight. This dramatically decreases cooking time.

• Add acidic ingredients like tomatoes or vinegar at the end to keep beans tender.

• Ensure beans remain covered in liquid to cook evenly.

• Don’t add salt early or beans may not soften fully. Season at the end.

• Cook beans low and slow. High heat can cause uneven cooking.

• Undercooked beans can cause unpleasant digestive side effects. Allow beans to become very soft.

Enjoying Puerto Rican Style Beans

Beans cooked the Puerto Rican way make a delicious, protein-packed addition to:

• Arroz con gandules – The classic rice and bean dish

• Asopao – A rich, hearty stew often containing seafood

• Pernil – Slow cooked pork shoulder

• Mofongo – Green plantains mashed with garlic and pork cracklings

For easy lunches, spoon beans over salad greens. Puree extras into a creamy soup. Roll up leftovers in empanadas or arepas. The options are endless!

Freeze any remaining beans in portion sizes to quickly reheat later. They will keep frozen for 4-6 months. Thaw and reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop.

Continue the Puerto Rican Culinary Journey

Once you master the perfect pot of tender beans Puerto Rican style, continue exploring the island’s incredible cuisine. Try your hand at other classics like mofongo, arroz con pollo, alcapurrias, and tres leches cake. The more recipes you cook from scratch, the deeper your knowledge and appreciation for this amazing culture. Puerto Rican food offers a rich culinary history well worth celebrating.