Emilie Meyer
Frijoles de la olla, or Mexican beans, are traditionally cooked slowly in a large clay pot. However, you can easily adapt this recipe for a crock pot or slow cooker. Frijoles are typically made with pinto beans, chicken broth, onions, garlic, and spices. The beauty of using a crock pot is that you can simply add all the ingredients, turn it on, and walk away! This makes frijoles one of the easiest and most convenient meals to cook in a crock pot.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Beans, onion, garlic, oil, salt, water, chicken broth, pork neck bones, cumin, bay leaves, cilantro, tomatoes, crema, queso fresco, lager-style Mexican beer, bacon, jalapenos, chilli powder, coriander, oregano, habanero chilli |
| Recipe | Rinse the beans under cool water to remove any dirt or debris. Layer the bottom of the crock pot with sliced onions, placing the beans directly on top. Add the remaining ingredients and cook on low for 6-10 hours. |
| Storage | Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months |
| Variants | Frijoles Borrachos or Drunken Beans, Frijoles Charros or Cowboy Beans, Crockpot Chicken Enchilada Casserole |
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What You'll Learn
Ingredients and preparation
Frijoles are a staple in Mexican cuisine and can be cooked in a crock pot or slow cooker. The ingredients and preparation are simple and easy to follow.
Firstly, you will need to gather your ingredients. The exact ingredients may vary depending on the type of frijoles being prepared and personal preference, but the basic ingredients typically include:
- Beans (commonly pinto beans)
- Water
- Onion
- Garlic
- Salt
- Spices and herbs for flavouring (such as cumin, bay leaves, cilantro, or epazote)
Optional ingredients that can add flavour and substance include:
- Pork neck bones or ham hock
- Chicken broth or vegetable broth
- Beer
- Bacon
- Chiles or jalapeños
- Tomato
- Crema or queso fresco
Once you have gathered your chosen ingredients, the preparation begins with cleaning and sorting the beans. Remove any dirt, debris, broken beans, or foreign objects such as small stones. Rinsing the beans under cool water is sufficient; there is no need to soak them overnight.
Next, prepare the crock pot. Layer the bottom of the crock pot with sliced onions. Place the beans directly on top of the onions. If using pork neck bones, nestle them into the beans. Add any other ingredients you wish to include, such as chiles, garlic, spices, and herbs.
Finally, add enough water or broth to cover the beans by at least two inches. You may also add beer at this stage for a unique flavour. Put the lid on the crock pot, set it to low heat, and let it cook for 6 to 10 hours, depending on your crock pot and the desired consistency of the beans. Check the frijoles after 3 hours and continue cooking until the beans are tender but not mushy.
Once the beans are cooked to your liking, taste and adjust the seasoning with salt if needed. You can serve the frijoles warm as a main dish with corn tortillas or quesadillas, or as a side dish garnished with cilantro, tomatoes, or cheese.
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Cooking methods
Frijoles, or Mexican beans, are traditionally cooked in a clay pot over a fire or on a stove. However, they can also be adapted for cooking in a crock pot or slow cooker. Here are some methods for cooking frijoles in a crock pot:
Preparation
Rinse the beans under cool water to remove any dirt or debris and get rid of any broken beans. There is no need to soak the beans overnight. However, if you are not using a crock pot, you may want to soak the beans overnight for more even cooking.
Layering
Layer the bottom of the crock pot with sliced onions. Place the beans directly on top of the onions. You can also add other ingredients such as garlic, bay leaves, and spices like cumin or chilli powder. For a meatier version, you can add pork neck bones or bacon.
Cooking
Add enough water to cover the beans by at least 2 inches. You can also use chicken or vegetable broth instead of water. Cover and cook on a low setting for 6 to 10 hours, depending on the recipe. The beans should be tender but not mushy. Taste and season with salt as needed.
Serving
Frijoles can be served warm or cold as a side dish or in soups, stews, or bowls. They can also be mashed or blended for a creamier texture. Leftovers can be refrigerated or frozen and used to make refried beans.
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Serving suggestions
Frijoles de la olla is a traditional Mexican dish that can be served in a variety of ways. Here are some serving suggestions for this versatile dish:
As a Main Course
- Serve warm in large bowls garnished with cilantro, tomatoes, and crema, or a sprinkle of queso fresco.
- For a heartier meal, add some shredded Mexican cheese on top.
- Frijoles can also be served as a soup, with lots of flavorful broth and sprinkled with herbs.
As a Side Dish
- Frijoles make a great side dish for carne asada or salsa verde chicken tacos.
- They can be served warm or cold alongside soups, stews, or bowls.
- Enjoy them as a side with warm corn tortillas or quesadillas.
Leftovers
- Transform your leftover frijoles into delicious refried beans by sautéing chopped onion and garlic for extra flavor before mashing or blending the beans for a creamy texture.
- Freeze your leftovers for up to 3-5 months and simply reheat them in a small pot or microwave-safe dish when you're ready to enjoy them again.
- You can also use leftover frijoles as a base for charro beans.
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Storage
Frijoles cooked in a crock pot can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months. They can be stored in airtight containers in the refrigerator and thawed overnight in the fridge when ready to be eaten.
When storing frijoles, it is important to let them cool down to room temperature before transferring them to the containers. It is also important to ensure that the containers are clean and dry before storing the frijoles.
To freeze frijoles, it is recommended to portion them into freezer-safe containers or bags. This way, you can easily thaw and reheat the desired amount. When freezing, it is important to label the containers or bags with the date and contents, so you know how long they have been frozen and what is inside.
When reheating frijoles, it is important to ensure that they are heated thoroughly. This can be done on the stovetop or in the microwave. If reheating on the stovetop, place the frijoles in a pot and heat them over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until they are heated through. If reheating in the microwave, place the frijoles in a microwave-safe container, cover them, and heat them in short intervals, stirring in between, until they are heated through.
It is important to note that the above storage instructions are general guidelines, and the specific storage requirements may vary depending on the ingredients used and the recipe followed. It is always important to use your best judgment when storing and reheating food to ensure food safety.
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Recipe variations
Frijoles de la olla is a traditional Mexican dish where beans are cooked slowly in a large pot with water, onions, garlic, and other seasonings until they're tender and flavorful. While the traditional pot is made of clay, a crock pot or slow cooker can be used to achieve the same result.
Type of Beans
While pinto beans are commonly used for frijoles, other types of beans such as black beans, bayo, flor de mayo, or boracho beans can also be used. Choose the type of bean that suits your taste preference or what is easily available to you.
Seasonings and Spices
In addition to onions and garlic, frijoles can be seasoned with salt, cumin, bay leaves, cilantro, or epazote. You can also add pork lard for extra flavor. If you're making vegetarian frijoles, simply omit the pork lard and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
Meat
Some variations of frijoles include meat, such as pork neck bones or bacon. These ingredients add a savory dimension to the dish. For a heartier meal, consider adding cooked chicken or beef to the frijoles before serving.
Cooking Liquid
Traditionally, frijoles are cooked in water, but for a unique twist, you can replace some of the water with beer. This will give the frijoles a slightly sweet and yeasty flavor. You can use a lager-style Mexican beer or a darker beer like Negra Modelo, depending on your preference.
Serving Suggestions
Frijoles can be served as a main dish with warm corn tortillas or quesadillas, or as a side dish. For a heartier meal, you can use frijoles as a base for charro beans or refried beans. Leftover frijoles can be refrigerated or frozen and later transformed into delicious refried beans by mashing or blending them for a creamy texture. Serve them with garnishes such as cilantro, tomatoes, crema, or queso fresco.
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Frequently asked questions
Frijoles are Mexican beans that are cooked slowly in a large clay pot. They are traditionally cooked with water, onions, garlic, and other seasonings until tender and flavorful.
First, rinse your beans under cool water to remove any dirt or debris and get rid of any broken beans. Layer the bottom of the crock pot with sliced onions, placing the beans directly on top. You can also add pork neck bones, chicken broth, cumin, and garlic. Add 4 cups of boiling water over the top, ensuring all the ingredients are covered, then put the lid on the slow cooker.
No, there is no need to soak the beans overnight. However, if you are not using a crock pot, you may want to soak the beans to ensure more even cooking.
Cook the frijoles on a low setting for 6 to 10 hours. Check the beans after 3 hours to ensure they are not overcooked. They should be tender but not mushy.
Frijoles can be served as a main dish with warm corn tortillas or quesadillas, or as a side dish. They can also be transformed into refried beans by mashing or blending them.
