Frijoles Negros con Achiote (Yucatan-Style Black Beans)
Soft black beans simmered with garlic, onion and a spoon of achiote paste for a warm, earthy and savoury pot.
Made with Pickled red onions (cebollas encurtidas) and Recado rojo (achiote paste). Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time35 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £0.49 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Heat the oil in a saucepan. Cook the onion for 5 minutes until soft, then add the garlic and oregano for 30 seconds.
5 min - 2
Stir your ready made recado rojo (see the base recipe) into the pan with the water until smooth.
- 3
Add the drained black beans and salt. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 15 minutes until the liquid is thick and glossy.
15 min - 4
Mash about a quarter of the beans against the side of the pan to thicken the sauce.
- 5
Taste and adjust the salt. Serve topped with your ready made pickled red onions (see the base recipe) and coriander.
Tips
- Rinse tinned beans well to remove the starchy liquid, then add fresh water.
- Mashing some beans gives a creamy sauce with no cream needed.
- Serve with rice, eggs or grilled meat, or pile onto tostadas.
Storing and freezing
Cool within 2 hours and keep in the fridge for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat until steaming hot all the way through.
Questions
Is this vegan?
Yes. It contains only beans, vegetables, spices and oil. It is also gluten free, dairy free, egg free and nut free.
Can I use dried beans?
Yes. Soak 250 g overnight and boil hard for 10 minutes, then simmer for 1 hour until soft before using. Never use undercooked kidney or black beans.
What is it good with?
Rice, eggs, tortillas, grilled fish or chicken. It also makes a good taco filling.
More made with pickled red onions (cebollas encurtidas)
Birria de Pollo (Quick Chicken Birria)
DFEFNFTacos de Hongos al Ajillo (Garlic Mushroom Tacos)
VGVDFTacos de Hongos al Chipotle (Chipotle Mushroom Tacos)
GFDFEFTurkey Sloppy Joes
NFSee every dish made with pickled red onions (cebollas encurtidas)
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.