Beans, Beans, Beans -- Frijoles de Olla

A pot of homemade beans not only tastes better than canned beans, but they can also be stored in the freezer for months at a time.

📝 Ingredients

• 2 cups dried beans
• 1 small onion
• 2-3 tablespoons lard ((optional))
• 1 teaspoon salt (plus more to taste)
• 2-3 quarts water

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Sort through the beans and discard any rocks or shriveled beans. Rinse the beans and drain well.
2. 2Add beans to a pot and cover with 2-3 quarts of water, or so the water level is 2" above the beans. Add the roughly chopped onion and 2-3 tablespoons of lard.
3. 3Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and partially cover. Let simmer for 1.5-2 hours.
4. 4Ensure that the water level is well above the beans by adding more water if you need to.
5. 5Start tasting them after 1 1/2 hours. If they are hard or grainy they need a little more time.
6. 6Once they are close add 1 teaspoon of salt and simmer for another 10-15 minutes. Salt to taste and add more if necessary. (I probably used a heaping 2 teaspoons total for this batch.)
7. 7If you want, portion into 1 cup sized bags (or jars). Include plenty of the broth in the portion bags. They will keep in the fridge for a few days, or in the freezer for months at a time.