Description
A hearty and flavorful Puerto Rican style bean stew featuring red beans simmered with aromatic spices, fresh vegetables, and potatoes. Perfect as a comforting main dish or a side, served best with rice and tostones.
Ingredients
Scale
Spices and Aromatics
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) canola oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2–3 teaspoons (10-15g) garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon (3g) cumin
- ½–1 small jalapeno, seeded and minced (optional)
- 1 tablespoon (1-2g) fresh cilantro or parsley, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon (3g) smoked paprika
- ¼–½ teaspoon (0.5-1g) cayenne pepper
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 packet Sazón Goya (with coriander, any Sazón without annatto)
- Salt to taste
Vegetables and Beans
- 1 medium bell pepper, chopped
- 4 cups (920g) cooked red beans (or three 15-ounce cans, rinsed and drained)
- 2 cups (479ml) broth (vegetable, beef, or chicken), or more as needed
- 1 medium-large potato, peeled and chopped
- ¼ cup (85g) tomato sauce
For Garnish
- Fresh cilantro or parsley leaves (optional)
Instructions
- Sauté aromatics: Heat the canola oil over medium heat in a large saucepan. Add the chopped onions, minced garlic, cumin, minced jalapenos (if using), chopped cilantro, smoked paprika, chopped bell pepper, cayenne pepper, and bay leaf. Cook the mixture, stirring occasionally, until the onions become soft and translucent, about 5-7 minutes. Avoid browning the ingredients.
- Add beans and liquids: Stir in the cooked red beans, broth, peeled and chopped potatoes, tomato sauce, Sazón Goya packet, and salt. Mix well and bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Simmer the stew: Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the saucepan, and let it simmer gently for 15-20 minutes or until the potatoes are tender and the flavors have melded together.
- Adjust seasoning and consistency: Taste the bean stew and adjust the seasonings as desired. You can add additional broth or spices to reach your preferred consistency and flavor balance.
- Serve: Remove the bay leaf and serve the Puerto Rican style beans hot, garnished with fresh cilantro or parsley leaves if desired. This dish pairs wonderfully with rice and/or tostones.
Notes
- Use canned beans for a quick version or cook dried beans beforehand for a richer texture.
- Adjust the jalapeno and cayenne pepper quantities according to your preferred heat level.
- Fresh cilantro can be substituted with parsley if preferred or not available.
- For a vegetarian version, use vegetable broth.
- The potato adds thickness and creaminess to the stew but can be omitted for a lighter version.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Puerto Rican
Keywords: Puerto Rican beans, red bean stew, Puerto Rican cuisine, bean recipe, Sazón beans, comfort food, Latin American beans
