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4.6 from 27 votes

Cranberry Pot Beans

You can think of these Cranberry Beans as Pinto Beans Lite. They have a similar flavor to pintos but are creamier and slightly less 'beany'. A great option for refried beans.

Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
2 hrs
Total Time
2 hrs 5 mins
Servings: 12 (6 cups)
Calories: 120 kcal
Cuisine: Mexican , Vegetarian

Ingredients

  • 2 cups dried cranberry beans
  • 2-3 tablespoons lard (or oil)
  • 1 small onion (roughly chopped)
  • 1 teaspoon salt (plus more to taste)
  • 2-3 quarts cold water

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Sort through the beans and discard any rocks or shriveled beans
  2. Rinse the beans and drain well
  3. Add beans to a wide saucepan or pot and cover with at least 12 cups of water, or so the water level is 2" above the beans
  4. Add the roughly chopped onion and 2-3 tablespoons of lard (or oil)
  5. Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to a simmer and let simmer for 2-3 hours partially covered.  Ensure that the water level is well above the beans by adding more water if you need to (I added an additional 4-6 cups of water to this batch).
  6. Start biting into them after 1 1/2 hours. If they are hard or grainy they need a little more time.
  7. Once done add 1 teaspoon of salt and simmer for another 10-15 minutes.  Take a final taste for salt. (I added another generous pinch to this batch).
  8. If you want, portion into 1 cup sized bags (or jars). Include plenty of the broth in the portion bags.

Notes

  • Beans are hyper-sensitive to salt amount so be sure to do lots of taste testing towards the end of the simmer and add more if necessary.
  • When adding additional water to the cooking beans, using hot/boiling water will reduce cooking time. 
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Nutrition Information

Calories 120kcal (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 12(6 cups)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 120

% Daily Value*

Calories 120kcal 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.