Tuesday, January 20, 2026
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Instantaneous Pot Black Beans (Costa Rican Fashion!)


Impressed by one in all my favourite holidays, these Costa Rican-style Instantaneous Pot black beans are thick, savory, and infused with heat spices and veggies. Soaked in a single day, they prepare dinner rapidly and make for the right aspect dish or topping with all my favourite meals! 

Scrumptious, nutritious, gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, and vegan, these Costa Rican black beans are a terrific possibility for everybody on the desk!

A bowl of Costa Rican Instant Pot black beans with fresh veggies, rice, and plantains.

What Are Costa Rican Black Beans? 

After I traveled to Costa Rica, I discovered that flavorful beans, particularly black beans, are a staple within the delicacies, and I immediately fell in love with the dish. In contrast to different black bean recipes I’ve tried, reminiscent of my refried beans and vegan black bean soup, Costa Rican black beans are sometimes cooked with onions, peppers, and garlic and flavored with heat, savory spices. They’re served at just about each meal and are used as a aspect or base in every part from soup to bowls, and in staple dishes like gallo pinto. 

I couldn’t get sufficient! So, the second I acquired dwelling, I began experimenting in my kitchen, making an attempt to recreate the savory, fragrant flavors myself. After a couple of rounds of testing, I’m completely satisfied to say I nailed the recipe, and it’s shockingly easy (and budget-friendly) to make! Strive these beans for your self, and I assure everybody in your house will probably be a fan. 

Black beans, bell peppers, onions, tomato paste, oil, garlic, and spices.

Elements and Notes

*Scroll all the way down to the recipe card for the complete recipe and ingredient record!

  • Dry Black Beans: Make certain to make use of contemporary, plain black beans. Canned beans gained’t take in the flavors as simply and are more likely to turn into mushy. 
  • Olive Oil: I exploit this to sauté the veggies, making a barely caramelized impact whereas including good-for-you fat. Avocado oil additionally works properly right here! 
  • Veggies: Yellow onion, bell pepper, and garlic add a candy, pungent style that really units this Instantaneous Pot beans recipe aside. 
  • Tomato Paste: This provides depth, richness, and a refined tangy style whereas making a thick, saucy consistency. 
  • Seasonings: I mix salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, chili powder, cumin, and bay leaves to create savory, fragrant taste. Nevertheless, to save lots of time, the Sazón seasoning mix creates an identical style! 

How one can Make Instantaneous Pot Black Beans

  1. Soak the beans: Submerge the dry beans in a pot of water, and soak them in a single day, ensuring to submerge them in at the least an inch of liquid. Then, drain them in a colander or high-quality mesh strainer, and rinse the beans properly. 
  2. Prepare dinner the beans: Mix the soaked beans, water or broth, and salt within the strain cooker. Safe the lid, set the valve to sealing, and prepare dinner on excessive strain. Then, naturally launch earlier than rigorously manually releasing any remaining strain. 
  1. Prepare dinner the veggies: Sauté the onion and bell pepper in oil in a big pot on the stovetop over medium warmth. As soon as gentle, stir within the garlic, and prepare dinner till aromatic. 
  1. Mix and serve: Subsequent, add the remaining elements, stir to mix, and produce the combination to a simmer. Prepare dinner, stirring sometimes, till the liquid thickens. Season the cooked beans to style. Take pleasure in instantly, or switch to an hermetic container and retailer within the fridge or freezer. 
Costa Rican black beans in a skillet with a wooden spoon sticking out.
Simmer, season to style, and revel in!

My High Suggestions & Methods 

  • Don’t skip soaking the beans! Soaking in a single day improves their texture, helps them prepare dinner evenly, and makes them simpler to digest.
  • Use broth as a substitute of water for the cooking liquid. Cooking the beans in rooster broth or vegetable broth enhances the flavour, particularly if the beans would be the most important part of your meal. 
  • Alter the cooking time. For a saucy consistency, I simmer for about half-hour. Nevertheless, for a thicker, stew-like consistency, I prefer to let my beans simmer for 45-60 minutes. 
  • Season generously on the finish. Beans usually want extra salt than anticipated. So, be sure you give them a style after simmering, and modify the seasonings as wanted.

My Favourite Serving Strategies

There are SO some ways to make use of these Instantaneous Pot beans! A few of my favourite serving ideas embody: 

A wooden spoon lifting a scoop of Instant Pot black beans from a skillet.

Pin this recipe to put it aside for later!

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A bowl of Costa Rican Instant Pot black beans with fresh veggies, rice, and plantains.

For the Beans

  • 2 cups dried black beans
  • Water for soaking
  • 6 cups contemporary water or bone broth

For the Spiced Black Beans*

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 yellow onion diced
  • 1/2 bell pepper diced
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • Cooked black beans with their liquid
  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 teaspoons high-quality sea salt extra to style
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper extra to style
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 bay leaf

Step 1: Soak the Beans

  • Place the dried black beans in a big bowl and canopy with a number of inches of water.

  • Soak in a single day, 8 to 12 hours.

  • Drain and rinse the beans properly.

Step 2: Prepare dinner the Black Beans

  • Add the soaked and drained beans, 6 cups contemporary water or broth, and 1 teaspoon salt to the Instantaneous Pot.

  • Safe the lid and set the valve to sealing.

  • Prepare dinner on Excessive Strain for half-hour. See notice.

  • Enable the strain to naturally launch for 20 minutes, then rigorously launch any remaining strain.

Step 3: End the Beans

  • Warmth the olive oil in a big pot over medium warmth.

  • Add the onion and bell pepper and sauté for five to 7 minutes, till gentle.

  • Stir within the garlic and prepare dinner for 30 seconds, till aromatic.

  • Add the cooked black beans with their liquid, tomato paste, salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and cumin.

  • Stir properly and produce to a mild simmer.

  • Prepare dinner over medium to medium-low warmth, stirring sometimes, till the liquid thickens and the flavors come collectively, 30-60 minutes.

  • Style and modify seasoning as wanted/desired! Often some extra salt!

  • *Substitute the person spices with 2-3 tablespoons of Sazón seasoning mix
  • Soaking improves texture and digestibility. In the event you don’t soak, prepare dinner for 40 minutes within the Instantaneous Pot. 
  • Older beans might have a couple of further minutes of strain cooking
  • Simmer longer for thicker, extra concentrated beans
  • Add a splash of water or broth if the beans thicken an excessive amount of

Storage: Refrigerate in an hermetic container for as much as 5 days. Or, freeze for as much as 3 months

Serving: 1servingEnergy: 168kcalCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 9gFats: 4gSaturated Fats: 1gPolyunsaturated Fats: 1gMonounsaturated Fats: 2gSodium: 509mgPotassium: 659mgFiber: 7gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 357IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 57mgIron: 2mg



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