Improvised Pot Beans -- Frijoles de Olla

I hope this post inspires you to improvise some pot beans at home! You'll get a big upgrade in flavor compared to store-bought versions, and it will lead to all sorts of quick, satisfying meals.

📝 Ingredients

• 1 lb. dried beans (approx 2.5 cups worth)
• 2-3 tablespoons lard, or bacon drippings
• 1/2 onion
• 1 jalapeno
• 2 teaspoons Mexican oregano
• 2 quarts water (plus more if necessary)
• 2 teaspoons salt (plus more to taste)

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Give the beans a once-over and discard any stones or strugglers. Rinse the beans.
2. 2Add the beans to a pot and cover with 2 quarts of water, or so the water level is about 2" above the beans.
3. 3Add the roughly chopped 1/2 onion and jalapeno to the pot, along with 2-3 tablespoons bacon drippings or lard, and 2 teaspoons Mexican oregano.
4. 4Bring them to a boil, then reduce heat, partially cover, and let them simmer away for a couple hours. Note: when partially covered I use low heat on my stove for a simmer.
5. 5Ensure that the beans are always submerged in liquid. If the water level ever seems too low you can just add a few more cups.
6. 6I usually start taking bites after 90 minutes or so. If they are still firm or grainy then they need more time. Once they are close you can add two teaspoons of salt, that was around the 2 hour mark for this batch.
7. 7Once salted, let them simmer for another 10-15 minutes and then take a final taste for seasoning. I added another generous pinch of salt to this batch, so that is approx. 3 teaspoons total for this batch.
8. 8Once cooked you can optionally split them into 1-cup sized portions. Be sure to include some of the broth in each of the portions. I usually store some of the portions in the freezer where they will keep for months, and keep a couple portions in the fridge to be used over the next few days.