Step 1

Rinse the dried Ayocote Negro beans. Add the rinsed beans to the pot along with the with the onion, cilantro stems, bay leaves, paprika, cumin, chopped up chipotles peppers in adobo sauce, and some freshly ground black pepper. Add the water to the pot and cover the beans by at least 2 inches of water. If you need to add more water go ahead and do that.

Step 2

Stir and bring the water to a rolling boil. Let the Ayocote Negro beans boil, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Stir two or three minutes to make sure that nothing is stuck to the bottom of the pot.

Step 3

Reduce heat to simmer. Add the lid and set a timer for 1 hour. After 1 hour has passed, remove the lid and stir. The beans will be absorbing water, and if it doesn’t look like they have enough water please go ahead and add more.

Step 4

Put the lid back on the pot and let the Ayocote beans simmer for another hour. Then, remove the lid and spoon out a bean. Squeeze it and taste it. It shouldn’t be ready yet, but I just want you do see where we are in the process. Go ahead and add the kosher salt now. Stir, cover, and simmer for another 45 minutes.

Step 5

Time for another taste test. Is the bean cooked to your liking? If not, continue cooking until the Ayocote Negro beans reach your desired tenderness. Remove the onion and the cilantro stems.