Vegetarian Pinto Beans with Soffritto
Hearty vegetarian pinto beans simmered with garlic, onion, green bell pepper, and Goya Sazon seasoning. Dry beans are soaked in hot broth, then simmered until tender with fresh vegetables added near the end for texture contrast. A simple, satisfying one-pot meal.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 onion
- 1 ½ tablespoon garlic, minced or pressed
- 4 ½ cup vegetable stock
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- 1 green bell pepper
- 8 ounce dry pinto beans
- 1 package Goya Sazon con Culantro y Achiotehomemade sofrito seasoning1:1DIY
varies by blend
- 2 cup water
Instructions
- 1
Melt butter in a pot and cook half the onion for 2 minutes until softened.
- 2
Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- 3
Add vegetable stock, black pepper, dried basil, and half the green bell pepper. Stir to combine.
- 4
Bring to a boil, then add dry pinto beans and Goya Sazon con Culantro y Achiote. Stir well.
- 5
Cover, turn off heat, and let sit for 1 hour.
- 6
Add water and bring back to a boil.
- 7
Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook for 45 minutes.
- 8
Stir in remaining onion and green bell pepper.
- 9
Cover and cook another 30 to 45 minutes until beans are tender.
- 10
Taste and adjust salt as needed before serving.
Tips
The 1-hour rest without heat allows beans to absorb initial flavors and soften slightly without cooking.
Add fresh vegetables in the final stages to preserve texture and color.
Adjust salt carefully—Goya Sazon contains salt; taste before adding more.
Good to Know
Refrigerate in an airtight container up to 4 days. Freeze up to 3 months.
Prepare through step 4 (after 1-hour rest) up to 1 day ahead. Resume with water and simmering when ready to serve.
Serve hot as a main course, optionally with rice, cornbread, or tortillas. Garnish with fresh cilantro if desired.
Common Mistakes
Do not skip the 1-hour soaking step to avoid undercooked beans.
Do not add salt until final taste adjustment to avoid oversalting with Goya Sazon.
Do not overcook final vegetables to avoid mushy texture.
Substitutions
Dairy-Free Swaps
General Alternatives
varies by blend