Instant Pot Mexican Black Beans with Epazote

Simply prepared black beans is such a satisfying, nutritious dish. This recipe for Instant Pot Mexican Black Beans with Epazote is based on the rich food cultures of the Americas. With just a few key ingredients–onion, garlic, spices, herbs, tomato sauce, and lemon–you can cook this recipe up, using dried black beans, from start to finish in about 40 minutes in the Instant Pot, no soaking required! Then you can top it with your favorite additions like avocado, radishes, tomatoes, olives, pumpkin seeds, jalapeno–it’s all up to you! Then serve it with fresh corn tortillas or corn chips. Your yummy, healthy, plant-based, gluten-free meal is complete! 

How to Cook Black Beans

This recipe for Instant Pot Mexican Black Beans with Epazote showcases a simple way to prepare black beans. You just sauté vegetables, then add seasonings, broth, and dried beans and cook until tender. You can mix in tomato sauce and lemon juice after the cooking process, and then top the beans as you like. If you don’t want to use an Instant Pot, simply follow the recipe, but start with soaked, drained black beans (soak about 8 hours) and cook them until they are tender (about 1 hour). 

Black beans (also known as turtle beans, caviar criollo, and frijoles negros) date back over 7,000 years, when they were a staple in the diets of Central and South America. You can easily find dried black beans in most supermarkets, and it’s fun to try the many varieties of heritage black beans, such as Black Magic, Condor, and Raven. My farmers market in Ojai sells Ayocote Negro beans that are so creamy and good (I used them in this recipe), but you can use any type of black bean you like! 

What is Epazote? 

Epazote is an aromatic herb commonly used in Mexican cuisine, as well as other cuisines of Central America and South America. The epazote plant grows well in California, and I have grown it in my own garden! The herb epazote has dark green leaves, and tiny flowers that produce lots of tiny epazote seeds.

What Does Epazote Taste Like?

It has a sort of oregano-citrus-mint flavor.

Where Can You Buy Epazote?

You can grow it yourself, find it fresh in some Latin markets, or find dried epazote at well stocked stores or online. 

While I appreciate Mexican food traditions and have had an opportunity to study them, I am not a true expert in this food cuisine. I invite you to check out the work of my dietitian colleague Alice Figueroa to learn more about this vibrant, healthful, delicious food culture. 

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