Steve Sando's Basic Cooked Beans Recipe

1. 1

   Soak your dried beans for 2 to 6 hours.

2. 2

   Using the pot youre going to cook the beans in, saute some onion and garlic (celery and carrot too, if you like) in olive oil or lard until soft.

3. 3

   Add the beans and their soaking water, making sure the beans are covered by 2 inches of water.

4. 4

   Stir and bring to a hard boil.

5. 5

   Boil the beans for 10 minutes, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 1 to 2 hours.

6. 6

   When you start to smell the beans along with the aromatics, youll know that the beans are about three-quarters of the way done.

7. 7

   Add salt to the pot (about 1 rounded tablespoon per pound of beans) and cook for about 30 minutes more.

8. 8

   To test if the beans are done, skim a few out with a slotted spoon and blow on them: If the skins wrinkle, theyre done.

No additional tips available.