Puerto Rican Beans

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil (or achiote oil)
• 3 tablespoons sofrito
• 3 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 bell pepper, chopped (any color)
• 1 packet sazon seasoning
• 1 teaspoon adobo seasoning
• 2 dried bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1 8-ounce can tomato sauce
• 2 cans pinto beans ((DO NOT DRAIN))
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• cilantro
• salt and pepper to taste (I usually use about 1/2 teaspoon of each)

Instructions

1. 1

   Start by heating the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the sofrito and tomato paste and let them cook together for a few minutes until the tomato paste darkens slightly and everything smells rich and toasty.1 tbs oil, 3 tbs sofrito, 2 tbs tomato paste

2. 2

   Next, stir in the chopped onions, garlic, and bell pepper. Cook until they’ve softened and started to melt into the mixture.1 small onion 2 garlic cloves, 1 bell pepper

3. 3

   Pour in your tomato sauce and stir it all together. Then add the beans, chicken broth, and any extras like diced potato or calabaza. Season with Sazón, Adobo, cumin, bay leaf, oregano, and of course, salt and pepper.8-oz can tomato sauce, 2 cans pinto beans, 1/2 cup chicken broth, 1 packet sazon, 1 tsp adobo, 1 tsp cumin, 2 bay leaves, 1 tsp oregano, salt and pepper to taste

4. 4

   Let everything simmer gently for about 30 minutes or until the sauce thickens and the veggies are tender.