Ingredients
- 1 pound of dried beans such as pinto or kidney
- 2 large spanish onions diced
- 2 large sweet peppers diced (yellow and red preferred)
- 1 poblano chili fire roasted and diced
- 1 large or 2 medium carrots finely diced
- 28 oz can of crushed tomatoes
- ⅓ cup of pepita (mexican pumpkin) seeds toated
- 3 cloves garlic (1 diced, 2 whole)
- 2 dried guajillo chilis
- 2 Tbsp cumin
- 1 Tbsp sweet paprika
- 1 tsp hot paprika (or less cayenne chili powder to taste)
- 2 bay leaves
- 4 stems of fresh thyme
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- ¼ tsp of baking soda
- Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
- Rinse beans and remove any rocks, soak overnight with 4–6 cups of water in a deep sauce pan or pot
- Bring beans and soaking liquid to a boil with baking soda, bay leaves, thyme, guajillo chilis, 2 cloves of garlic whole, both paprikas, ½ the cumin
- Reduce to simmer and cook until beans are starting to get tender
- Meanwhile sauté onions in olive oil on medium-low heat until wilted and starting to get translucent (about 10 mins)
- Add sweet pepper, poblano, and carrot and cook until tender (about 10 more mins)
- Add 1 clove of diced garlic last and cook another minute or two
- Add tomatoes and simmer at least 35–45 min
- Season vegetables and beans separately to taste
- When beans are just tender remove bay leaves, thyme, and dried chilis
- Remove beans from broth with a spider leaving garlic behind and add them to the veggie mixture
- Add toasted pepitas to the bean broth purée well, and strain mixture into the veggie mix
- Warm through and serve with rice or bread and mexican crema on the side
Photo by Sally Crossthwaite via Flickr used with CC Attribution, Non Commercial, No Derivatives license