Kidney beans is the go to beans for most Puerto Ricans. We use it in rice, add it to salads, and make it in a stew like form. Today, I'm sharing my quick Instant Pot Kidney Beans recipe that takes dried kidney beans and transforms it into a flavorful Puerto Rican habichuelas guisada recipe.
How To Make Puerto Rican Kidney Beans In The Instant Pot
I love you abuela, but I'm so glad to have an Instant Pot! I am able to safely make habichuelas guisada quickly in my Instant Pot, and they taste as good as abuela's.
Pre-soaking is not necessary when using the instant pot, but I do like to put my dried beans, once rinsed, in a large bowl covered with water, a chunk of onion, bay leaf, garlic, and the optional smoked ham hock. I like to soak it for an hour while I get everything else (and the rice) ready to cook.
What I love about the Instant Pot is that you have valuable stove burners available, and it still offers tons of options, like sauteing! This is where the magic happens.
Quick tip! DO NOT ADD SALT UNTIL BEANS ARE COOKED! (Adding salt too soon keeps your beans from softening.)
Put oil in your IP (Instant Pot) sleeve, add in your seasonings, homemade sofrito, and tomato sauce. Let the Puerto Rican , while stirring occasionally, for 4 minutes.
Next, add in your veggies and ham hock. And then your broth.
Next, place lid over the IP and turn the knob towards sealing, then press manual high pressure (or beans setting) for 40 minutes.
Once the 40 minutes are up, press the cancel button and allow the Instant Pot to naturally release. (The top knob will fall down once ready to open.)
More Bean Recipes: Cuban Navy Beans, Sausage Kale Lentil Soup, Chicken Enchilada Soup
Puerto Rican IP Kidney Beans
Equipment
- Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 16 oz dry kidney beans rinsed
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 smoked hamhock
- 2 cloves garlic
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 chunk onion
- ½ cup sofrito
- 1 packet sazon con culantro
- 1 tbsp adobo
- ½ tbsp oregano
- 2 potatoes peeled, chopped
- 1 red pepper chopped
- 3 tbsp tomato sauce
- 1 tbsp salt
- ½ tbsp black pepper
- 4 cups chicken broth low sodium
- ¼ cup cilantro chopped
Instructions
- In a large bowl, add in dried beans, hamhock, onion chunk, bay leave, garlic and water to cover. Let sit for an hour before draining.To the Instant Pot (IP) add in oil and set saute mode for 6 minutes. Once oil is warm, add in sofrito, seasonings EXCEPT for the salt, and tomato sauce. Mix around and let cook for 3 minutes before adding in the drained bean mix.Allow the beans to get coated and now add the remaining ingredients. Mix, close lid and set to sealing. Place timer at 40 minutes on manual high pressure mode.Allow for a natural release by pressing cancel when the 40 minute timer goes off. Once depressurized, remove lid, stir and carefully taste the beans. Add salt to your liking.
Ocean Dark says
Can you make this in a regular pot or crock pot?
Latina Mom Meals says
Yes, in a slow cooker, I'd say go on high for 4 hours, or low for 6. (Be sure there's enough liquid in there.)
For the regular pot, yes, cook for about 2-3 hours, or until beans are soft.
Thank you for visiting. 🙂
Yolanda Melendez says
Do you have a cookbook? If so what is the title? I would like to purchase it.
Latina Mom Meals says
Oh man! Nope, not yet, but I would love to make some! Thank you for the reminder. 🙂
Kenya says
Thanks so much for your knowledge and love Neyssa! I’m in the process of making these beans for dinner tonight with pork chops and coconut rice. Being between New York and philly, I grew up with a lot of people from PR (my brother in law, born and raised there as well) and so I have a love for Puerto Rican cuisine. Haaa you know how something looks and sounds right ?, I didn’t even question your recipe! Well it’s a rainy friday here in philly, can’t wait to eat lol
Latina Mom Meals says
Aww Kenya! Yes, there is a distinct Northeast taste to my cooking lol. And you're a neighbor! I'm 10 minutes from Philly! I hope you enjoyed the beans. 🙂
Danny says
Do you cook the ham hocks first?
Latina Mom Meals says
I always use smoked hamhocks, which are precooked. If you are using raw hamhocks, I would not soak them with the beans, but you can certainly add them to the Instant Pot and they will cook with the beans. Let me know how it comes out!
Ralph M Rodriguez says
You need to be sure to say no salt until beans are cooked, followed directions and put salt before cooking. I hope it doesn't ruin it.
Neyssa says
I'll update it now so it stands out. Thank you for letting me know! Tell me, how did it come out?
Deb says
Do you cook the smoked ham hock in the IP, with the beans? Thank you.
Neyssa says
I do. 🙂
Liz says
Flavorful and super easy to prepare.